A teacher is running 12 marathons in 12 months.

Lynne Wheeler, who works at Ifield School in Cedar Avenue, Gravesend, is raising funds for a charity that supported the family of one of her pupils, who is from Medway, when he suffered severe brain damage.

She has already completed Jeskyns Challenge, Portland Marathon and the New Forest Ultra Marathon for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with seriously ill children in hospital.

Lynne, of Queens Farm Road, Shorne, taught the 13-year-old boy before he was admitted to intensive care last year after suffering a number of seizures which eventually led to permanent brain damage.

She hopes to raise £1,000 as a thank you to Ronald McDonald House Guy’s and St Thomas’s for enabling his family to stay close by when he was being treated at London Evelina Children’s Hospital.

"Nothing can ever prepare you for when your child falls seriously ill, either, which is why I’m raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities and the fantastic work they do to keep families together during these difficult times." - Lynne Wheeler

She said: “Although I have been running for four years and have taken part in a number of other marathons, no amount of physical or mental training can quite prepare you for 12 marathons in 12 months.

“I looked at what other people have done, 10 marathons in 10 days and things like that, but it would have been far too much for me.

“I chose this because I knew it would be a really tough challenge, but it’s not impossible.

“Nothing can ever prepare you for when your child falls seriously ill, either, which is why I’m raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities and the fantastic work they do to keep families together during these difficult times.

“I had never heard of the charity until my pupil was admitted to hospital. His parents told me that they wouldn’t have known what to do without it or its staff.

“My goal is to get £1,000 but obviously I’d like to get more.”

Lynne has been training and has a number of pairs of trainers that she uses, as the terrain on these runs varies.