GRANDMOTHER Karen Tuckwell will be running the London Marathon in memory of her granddaughter Harriet, who had Down's Syndrome and died just before birth.

Karen’s daughter Kerrie was pregnant with her third child in 2013 when she had complications and lost the baby in the last few weeks.

She said: "Losing my granddaughter was one of the hardest things to go through but to watch my daughter go through it was even harder. After some time, we decided we wanted to raise money for the Down’s Syndrome Association and do something to remember Harriet by.

"We booked our first race and have never looked back. I hope to do everyone proud and will be running with Harriet in my heart."

Karen, 58, of Newport, said running helps her feel close to Harriet and it has now become her passion.

It will be her second marathon, but the first one she’s done without her daughter by her side.

She said: "I have always trained and raced with Kerrie so to be doing the London Marathon on my own is very nerve-racking. I hope I do her proud."

Karen has already smashed her £500 fundraising target — by nearly double.

Karen can be sponsored on justgiving.com/fundraising/karentuckwell

Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.