MOTHER-OF-FOUR Elaine Falcus is set to complete a marathon hat-trick for a cause close to her heart.

The Weymouth mum is taking on the London Marathon for the third time in three years to raise funds for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust after witnessing the work done by charity first-hand.

She said: “They looked after a very close family friend of mine and I saw all the good work they did and I wanted to give something back.

Elaine, who will celebrate her 47th birthday the day before the marathon, said she has no specific fundraising target but was simply trying to raise as much as possible.

After completing the 26.2 miles in three hours and 51 minutes last year, Elaine is hoping to finish inside three hours 45 minutes this time round and says her build-up to the race has gone smoothly.

She said: “The preparation has gone brilliantly and it’s definitely easier doing it for the third time. I’ve done about four 20-mile runs so I’m in pretty good shape.

“Fitting in the training has been fine, I’ve got four children to look after but I managed to work around that and I normally went out at about six in the morning.”

Elaine had another reminder of the good work done by staff at Weldmar when she met up with fellow runners recently at the hospice.

n Elaine is holding a fund-raising night with a raffle at the Railway Tavern in Queen Street, Weymouth, on May 2 and anyone who wishes to donate prizes for the event can call her on 01305 787890.

n ARE YOU RUNNING THE MARATHON? Call the Echo newsdesk on 01305 830999