A WOMAN was inspired to run a marathon because of an eight-year-old girl she knows who has cancer.

Julie Field, of Bradley, will take on the London Marathon this weekend to raise money for charity Children with Leukaemia.

The 37-year-old told the Examiner she immediately thought of the children’s charity because of Leukaemia sufferer Sophie Edwards, of Newsome.

Julie is friends with Sophie’s parents and has seen the ordeal the family have suffered since the schoolgirl was diagnosed.

Julie said: “Leukaemia is the main form of childhood cancer so anything that helps is a worthwhile cause.”

Julie has been a member of Huddersfield Road Runners club for four years and does Race for Life in Greenhead Park every year.

However, the experienced runner has never tackled a marathon and said she’s feeling “a little bit apprehensive”.

“I’ve been doing lots of training with my friend Sally.

“We run about three times a week all over Huddersfield. We just did a run on Sunday in Garstang.”

Julie is travelling down to London with partner Russell for some support.

But the sales executive will do the run all by herself.

She said: “I hope it’s not going to be too hot like it has been the past few days.

“I bet I’ll be really happy to see Buckingham Palace towards the end of the race.”

Julie is hoping to run the race in four hours and to raise more than £500.

Sophie’s dad Andrew said the whole family thought what Julie was doing was ‘brilliant’.

He said: “It’s fantastic. I’ve known Julie for a long time and this is such a great thing she is doing.

“It isn’t just for Sophie, she’s doing it for all children with Leukaemia.”

Seven weeks ago Sophie was the first child to have stem cell treatment in Leeds after a bone marrow transplant failed.

Andrew said: “We’re not medical experts so we’ve got to trust the doctors.

“She’s not in any more pain with this new treatment so it’s definitely worth trying.

“She’s doing okay at the moment, but was very ill a few weeks back, but she fought it off and isn’t too bad now.

“There’s still a long, long way to go and we’re waiting on results.”

Andrew and his wife Emma still have to make sure Sophie’s environment is sterile. Sophie can’t have friends around to visit her at home in case she picks up something.

Since finishing her chemotherapy her hair is starting to grow back and Andrew said it’s starting to turn curly.

To sponsor Julie in her first London Marathon visit www.bmycharity.com/julief