by Emma Grove

Pounding the streets of Sheppey to train for a marathon is all well and good – but it’s slightly more glamorous when you can run round Central Park in New York City to prepare yourself.

Thanks to her job as cabin crew from Virgin Atlantic, that’s exactly what Katrina Taylor has been able to do.

The 31-year-old is currently preparing to take part in her first London Marathon on April 17.

And although she is doing a fair amount of running round the Island, she has also been able to train in Boston, Washington, Barbados and Shanghai.

She has always wanted to do the London Marathon and although in the past she has run a half marathon in Los Angeles, this will be her first full one.

Katrina, of Oak Lane, Minster, is hoping to raise £2,000 for the National Society for Epilepsy – a cause close to her heart as her 27-year-old brother Aaron has the condition.

Aaron, who lives with his and Katrina’s mum Maureen in Summerville Avenue, Minster, has had epilepsy since birth.

Katrina, who lives with her boyfriend Nick Auston, said she wants to raise money for the charity and awareness of the condition because she knows how hard it can be to live with it.

She said: “It still affects Aaron and he still has a fit nearly everyday.

“It has a huge impact on everybody in the family – it’s hard but I don’t know any different and I’m not so sure I would change it because it makes you more aware of other things that are out there in society.

“It’s been a learning process for the whole family and we are lucky we are very close-knit and we have just dealt with it.

“My mum is a huge inspiration and I don’t know where we would all be without her – she’s phenomenal.”

Katrina has been training five days a week and says the only days she isn’t running is when she’s flying.

She added: “I have been running all over the world which makes it a bit more glamorous.

“I think running around Central Park was the nicest run I have done.

“It’s takes huge dedication, possibly I didn’t think how much, but it will be worth it. I’m really pleased with how my training is going.”

To sponsor Katrina, visit her website at www.justgiving.com/Katrina-Taylor79