A WOMAN from Hitchin is lacing up her running shoes in preparation for the London marathon next month, in memory of her “brave” brother who passed away aged just 25 from leukaemia last year.

Kim Tyler, of Wymondley Road, Hitchin, lost her brother, Ben, in June of last year after he was rushed to hospital with the illness.

Ben died just three days after he was admitted, and a week after his death, Kim vowed to raise money in his memory through a number of ways, starting with the 26.2 mile gruelling course.

“Ben and I were chalk and cheese, but we got on so well,” said the 23-year-old trainee accountant, who is raising the money for Anthony Nolan charity.

“He was a really nice person. He would really go out of his way to help people.

“It all happened really suddenly. Although he had been ill for weeks, we had no idea it was something like that.”

Ben was keen on engineering and computers, and was taken on as an apprentice in 2007 at Astrium in Stevenage.

He got married in February of last year to wife Laura, before settling down in Hitchin.

A week after his death, Kim set herself the target of running the London Marathon, as well as vowing to hold other fundraising events, including a comedy and quiz night.

She will also compete in the Silverstone Half Marathon on Sunday, and is due to run the Finchley 20 mile run one week after.

“I’m not a regular runner, but I’m hoping to do the race in under four-and-a-half hours, which I think will be quite comfortable,” said Kim.

“I would ideally like to raise �4,000. But this is an ongoing thing and I hope to raise more through other events too.”

To sponsor Kim, you can visit her page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KimTyler