First marathon for Ashington woman

However, one Ashington woman is training for a marathon and aims to give it her all.

Elaine Rousseau, 36, of Penn Gardens, is running her first marathon in April.

She is taking part in the Brighton marathon for Shine, a charity which supports individuals and families as they face the challenges of living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, a build up of fluid inside the skull, leading to brain swelling.

She said: “I applied for a charity space in the London marathon and missed out.

“So when Shine told me they had places for the one in Brighton I jumped at the chance.”

The charity is very close to Elaine’s heart as her husband of 14 years suffers from spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Elaine’s marathon training started earlier this year with 5k runs including the Race for Life in May.

She even did one on Christmas day saying that she is too ‘stubborn’ to give herself a day off as she wants to feel as if she has put her all into the training.

Elaine said she is ‘excited’ but sometimes feels as if she has taken on a bit too much.

A Just Giving page has been set up and Elaine hopes to raise £400. To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/Elaine-Rousseau.

If you are interested in running and raising money for charity, Shine still has five spaces for runners eager to race in the Brighton marathon.

All general entry for the 2012 race is now closed but there are still charity places available.

Anyone interested in signing up or finding out more should contact Cerys Long on 01733 421329 or email [email protected].