It’s fingers, toes and laces crossed for a Deal runner who is determined to make next year’s London Marathon the last in a series of challenges in memory of her sister.

Fitness fanatic Victoria Carney, 38, of Becket Close, Deal, has entered the ballot for the eighth time and will find out if she has been successful in the coming days.

But this year, the quest to get a place is more important that ever as it will be the 39th and final challenge she will complete in memory of her sister, Sarah.

She died of cholangiocarcinoma – a liver cancer occurring within the bile ducts – age 39, in March 2015.

“Running the London Marathon is something I’ve always wanted to do but I’ve never managed to get a place in the ballot,” Victoria said.

“I did the Brighton Marathon in 2012 and Sarah was so proud of me. If she knew I was doing this she would be both flattered and very proud. She would also think I’m a little bit mad.” - Victoria Carney

“I’m just hoping and praying this time round.”

Victoria, originally from Gloucestershire, has lived in Deal with her wife, Helen, a teacher at Goodwin Academy, for eight years.

Having left the RAF in 2008, she is now a support engineer at Hitachi Rail in Ashford, the only female engineer working for the company.

Sarah lived in Queensland, Australia, having moved there in 2001.

Before she fell ill, Victoria and Helen would visit her and her two children – Summer, now nine, and Keely, now seven – as often as they could.

Victoria said: “We would try and get over there every two or three years, but once Sarah was diagnosed we went over more.

“We visited three times in a 12-month period and spent Christmas 2014 with her, because we knew it was going to be her last.”

After the festive season, Sarah’s health deteriorated rapidly.

Victoria said: “She called me on March 3 and said she’d been to the doctors and it wasn’t good news. They’d given her two to six weeks to live.

“I frantically booked flights and we made it over their the day before she died.

“She was in palliative care so her eyes weren’t open but she knew we were there.”

In the depths of Victoria’s grief she decided to dedicate her time raising funds for AMMF – the only registered charity in the UK working to raise funds for research into cholangiocarcinoma.

Sitting at work one day Victoria had a brainwave.

She said: “Sarah was 39 when she died, I thought I could do 39 challenges in her memory.

“I wasn’t going to try and fit it all in to 12 months, it would have been too much. I thought I’d give myself a two-year window and that way I’ll be 39 when I finish them.

“I thought it was perfect.”

Victoria, who plays for Folkestone Optimist Hockey Club, has so far completed 31 – ranging from 5k runs to half marathons.

They have included 10k runs in Deal and Sandwich, a triathlon at Eton Dorney, and more recently a Swim Serpentine at Hyde Park.

It is her dream to complete the challenges with the London Marathon in April 2017.

She said: “Growing up, Sarah and I used to fight like all sisters do but we did athletics together.

“She was a sprinter and I did long distance.

“I did the Brighton Marathon in 2012 and Sarah was so proud of me. If she knew I was doing this she would be both flattered and very proud. She would also think I’m a little bit mad.”

To date, Victoria has raised a total of £3,600 towards her target £5,000.

To sponsor her click here.