Cancer girl's mum runs for funds

Julie Austin: "It's time to give something back"

A young Devon girl who spent three weeks in a coma after contracting leukaemia will be watching as her mother competes in the London Marathon.

Mattie Austin, six, who lives near Axminster, was only a year and a half old when she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Now her mother Julie is running to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund (LRF).

She has raised nearly £3,000 so far for the marathon on 18 April.

Mattie Austin: Three weeks in coma

Mrs Austin said: "After two years of chemotherapy and lots of help and support from the NHS, friends and support charities, we were able to start putting our lives back together.

"Now I feel it's time to give something back, and my chosen recipient is the LRF.

"Their extraordinary work will one day ensure that leukaemia is no longer a threat to life, and it's vital that they get the financial support they need to continue their research."

You can sponsor Julie Austin online at www.justgiving.com/austin.