A physiotherapist hopes to take part in the London Marathon for a charity close to her heart.

Marie Darby, 35, from Dartford, is half way to raising the £2,000 she needs to take part in the Virgin Money London Marathon on April 13.

Miss Darby, of Almond Road, wants to run for MS-UK, a charity for people with multiple sclerosis.

The nursing assistant and physio at Darent Valley Hospital often treats people with MS, but said there was more than one reason she was putting on her running shoes.

She said: “ At previous London Marathons, one of my colleagues volunteered to do massages for the runners afterwards. She had so many great stories and was inspired by the event, she roped us in to it.

“I see a lot of MS patients at work and my best friend suffers from it as well, so it would have always been a charity I would have run for.”

Miss Darby has a lot of fundraising work to do before she can take her place on the starting line.

She said:“I’m struggling a bit at the moment but I’m going to shave my head and get sponsored so that should raise some money for it.”

Many people speak of hitting “the wall” when they run the marathon, a moment where a competitor’s mind and body wants to throw in the towel.

However, Miss Darby said she was more concerned with getting in shape and raising money before worrying about the day itself.

She is fitting in 15-mile runs around her busy work schedule and plans to work up to 20 miles.

She said: “When it comes to the day hopefully everyone will carry each other through.”