SUPERFIT runner Sara Moran is competing in four marathons in four weekends to raise money for charity.

Sara has already completed events in Paris and Manchester and on Sunday will be in the London Marathon before finishing her challenge with the Milton Keynes run on May 4.

Mum-of-three Sara, 43, is raising money for the Tom Bowdidge Foundation, set up after the death of the inspirational teenager.

Tom died of a rare and aggressive stomach cancer in October 2013, aged 19.

As he underwent treatment, he raised £170,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Sara, a coach for the Run, Eat, Sleep running club in Colchester, said: “Tom was a friend of my daughter, Rebekah, who was devastated when he died. He was such a great fundraiser himself, despite being so ill.”

Sara, who lives in Rowhedge, was diagnosed with cancer herself, the day before her 30th birthday. She said: “I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer the same week as I entered by first Race for Life. I had most of my thyroid removed. I underwent radioactive iodine therapy and I was given the all-clear.

“I started running while undergoing treatment as a way of clearing my head and helping me cope with my situation.

“I find running therapeutic and since being given the allclear have run several marathons and ultra-marathons.

Sara did her first marathon in Berlin to raise money for a cancer charity and last year took part in the London Marathon, finishing in three hours, 45 minutes.

She qualified for the London race again this year and approached the Tom Bowdidge Foundation to run for them.

But then she decided to make the challenge even harder by running four marathons in four weekends. She said: “I did the first one in Paris on April 12. It was a really hot day, so I decided to be sensible. I did that in three hours, 54 minutes.”

Sara went on to complete the Manchester Marathon in three hours, 41 minutes.

She said: “I was aching a bit afterwards, but I am ready to go and am looking forward to Sunday.

I will be running with Tom's sister, Emma, and four others for the foundation.

“My grandson, Harley, was born on the first anniversary of Tom’s death, which was emotional.”

Sara has raised more than £2,000 so far, including a £500 donation from husband, Simon, who runs Colchester Boot Camps. He raised the money when he had his beard shaved off after a year’s growth.

To sponsor Sara, visit https://mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/saramoran1