AN ILKLEY woman is preparing to take on two marathons to support a charity close to her heart.

Fiona Connor will be raising money for Alzheimer's Research UK when she competes in the London Marathon on Sunday, April 20.

Then, just a month later, she will be going the distance again for the charity in the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday, May 27.

The 23 year old is running in memory of her grandfather, William (Bill) Connor, who died after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for eight years.

Fiona, who works for 247 Nursing in Ilkley, has set herself a £1,500 target and explains on her www.justgiving.com page why the cause means so much to her.

She said: "I am running the London and Edinburgh marathons for Alzheimer's Research UK because my family, friends and partner have been effected.

"We lost our Granddad to Alzheimer's and it was awful. For years we slowly watched, helpless, as a proud Yorkshire man shrunk away and changed into a person he himself did not know.

"It has been announced that Alzheimer's is now the leading cause of death in the UK.

"It affects over 850,000 people in the UK and this number will rise to one million by 2025, which will soar to two million by 2051 - and almost 225,000 people will develop Alzheimer's this year.

"That's one person every three minutes.

"I will be running a total of 52.4 Miles to help raise awareness and funds that will help find a cure to a disease that is taking over our nation and shattering lives.

"Your donations and messages of support will get me over the finish line at each race, and will help bring Alzheimer's to an end."

Fiona can be supported at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fiona-connor1 .

A Guiseley-based physiotherapy clinic, meanwhile, will have special reason to cheer on another London Marathon runner this weekend.

Physio Med has been helping 53 year old Phil Davies, who is raising money for Leeds Mencap, prepare for the race.

Mr Davies, from Armley, has completed the marathon before but this will be his first attempt since turning 50.

He sought help from the award-winning Guiseley clinic after experiencing some tightness in his hamstring.

He said: "I consider myself pretty fit but my hamstrings aren’t quite as resilient as the rest of me.

"Thankfully, the treatment I’ve received from Physio Med has definitely helped to strengthen them."

Physio Med has also produced an advisory guide for marathon runners with tips on how best to prepare for, run and recover from races.