A RUNNER is heading to London this weekend to take part in her first marathon, in a bid to help improve lives in Africa.

Corin Heney, 26, will run in the London Marathon to raise money for York-based human rights charity International Service, for which she works.

She had never run further than 5k before last summer, but has now spent six months training for the 26.2 mile race, including running along York’s Bar Walls.

“I applied after watching a friend run the London Marathon in 2016,” she said.

“It was such an amazing atmosphere and so many great causes being raised for, I wanted a piece of the action – whilst raising awareness and donations for International Service.”

Ms Heney, who has already beaten her £1,000 target, said the cause was close to her heart.

“It’s the work we do that’s been keeping me motivated – even when I was running along the banks of the Ouse in the middle of December,”she said.

The charity works to change lives in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Rwanda and to sponsor Ms Heney, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CorinHeney