INSPIRED by her daughter’s love of all things pink, a County Durham mum is donning a fairy tutu to raise money in her memory.

Sam Askey, from Durham, is running a half marathon every month this year to raise money for Neuroblastoma UK.

She is raising money in memory of her daughter Emma, who was three when she died from the disease in 2009.

The 42-year-old artist said: “Emma was a very girly girl. She loved dressing up and she loved to be a princess for the day.

“When I decided to do this it was based on her love of dressing up and all things pink.”

Cheered on by her husband Phil and son Daniel, 7, she has so far worn the bright pink tutu to run races in York, Harewood House near Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Keswick.

She is raising money for Neuroblastoma UK, which funds research into finding a cure for the disease and supporting families affected by it.

Emma was diagnosed with the cancer, which affects children up to the age of 14, in 2008 and underwent intensive chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

Despite at first responding well to the treatment, she relapsed and died on September 23, 2009.

Mrs Askey started running with the aim of completing the Great North Run in 2009 but had to pull out because of Emma’s illness.

Since then she has completed the race twice and done other fundraising including holding race nights and cycling the seven stanes, in Scotland.

She said: “I wanted to raise a bit more awareness about neuroblastoma and the charity. When people hear about it I want to be able to point them in the direction of that charity. It’s a cause that’s very close to my heart.

“It’s been good so far. I’m not the fastest but the aim is I finish. Hopefully at the end of the year I will feel fitter but not broken. I can’t believe I’m almost half way through.”

Mrs Askey, who is part of the running group Durham Mums on the Run, has raised more than £800 so far.

To follow Mrs Askey’s progress visit her Facebook page The Pink Tutu Project or to donate visit www.justgiving.com/Running4EmmaAskey.