A SWINDON nurse is ready to race her way to raising a huge sum for charity.

Eleanor Wilkins, of Old Town, is taking part in this year's London Marathon to raise money for Diabetes UK.

Her fundraising has already been given a £400 boost from a diabetic drugs company but she is appealing to kind-hearted people across the town to dig deep into their pockets to help her raise £1,500.

The 34-year-old, who works at Savernake Hospital in Marlborough, has applied unsuccessfully for a place in the race for the last four years, so decided to run for a charity instead.

Although if she waited a year she would get an automatic place she has more pressing business to attend to as she plans to get married in July.

"I decided to run for Diabetes UK because I worked on a diabetics ward in Basingstoke for three years and saw just what it can do," she said."I think it is a subject that is very difficult to understand and it is an incredibly destructive disease.

"People don't realise just how bad it is and how it can affect people's lives."

And it's not the first time Eleanor has pounded the gruelling 26-mile course she first took part in the marathon in 1994.

It took her just under seven hours to finish the course.

But she learnt a hard lesson along the way and will be better prepared this time round.

"I didn't do any training for it and spent the next week on crutches and had months of intensive physiotherapy on my knee," she said.

"I'd definitely recommend anyone who was thinking about taking part to do the training outlined by the marathon organisers."

She was inspired to give the marathon another go after her 62-year-old father Dennis completed the course last year in five hours and 27 minutes.

"He did really well seeing it was his first attempt and although he wasn't running specifically for charity he raised over £1,000 for cancer research."

Eleanor has now thrown herself into training but is running about three weeks behind schedule after breaking two ribs while on holiday in Jamaica.

"I'm playing a bit of catch up at the moment, but I'm getting there," she said.

"It was hard work the last time I did it so I'm hoping it'll be a bit easier with training.

"I'm aiming to complete the course in less than five hours. I just want to beat my dad."

This year's London Marathon takes place on April 23.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Eleanor can get in touch with her on 01672 517273.