IN MEMORY of her father, who passed away from bowel cancer, this woman is taking part in the London Marathon 2019 to raise £1,500 for a Dorset-based charity.

Melanie Parker, a 38-year-old child minder from Axminster, is raising money for Weldmar Hospicecare, a charity that specialises in end of life care for people in Dorset.

She chose Weldmar as her charity because her father, Christopher Denning, spent his last few weeks at the Joseph Weld hospice in Dorchester before he sadly passed away from bowel cancer at the age of 51.

A picture of Melanie with her parents on her wedding day in 2002 is one of the last photos she has of her with her father, as he became ill with cancer in February 2003 and unfortunately lost his battle with the disease in March 2004.

"I have always wanted to do something for them at Weldmar because their care and their compassion for my dad and his family was absolutely outstanding and I have always wanted to do something to pay them back in some way for that.

"Their staff are amazing, there is nothing that they will not do to help you with any little request. It's a lovely place.

"I have done quite a lot of training already for the marathon. I have done 12 miles and I'm stepping it up by two miles each week. It has been quite hard but it is not too bad as long as you stick with the training.

"All of my friends and family have been so supportive but they think I am absolutely mad doing it. They will all be donating to my cause nearer the time.

"They all understand how important this is to me, especially my dad's side of the family. Some of them have done their own fundraising or will be in the future.

To donate to Melanie's fundraising campaign, visit her Just Giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/melanie-parker11

For more information about Weldmar Hospicecare and the work they do across Dorset, visit their website here: https://www.weld-hospice.org.uk/