VULNERABLE children will benefit from one generous runner's fundraising campaign for the upcoming London Marathon.

Jennifer Vinton, 35, recently completed the Reading Half Marathon and she is bidding to raise £2,500 for children's safeguarding charity, Plan International UK.

The Whitley runner, who works with disadvantaged young people, prepared for the 26-mile route by conquering the town's centrepiece race last month, with her mother cheering her on after they started going for runs together.

She said: “I have been running for about 10 years now, my first run was with my amazing mum, she took up running later on in life and seeing what she could accomplish inspired me to give it a go.

“I started donating to Plan International UK after my daughter was born. I hated the idea that if she had been born in another country she could have faced inequality, a poor education and limited healthcare.

“I want to raise money to help girls across the world lead a better quality of life.

“I broke a bone in my foot in February, but luckily I have fully recovered and feel confident I will complete the marathon.”

She has so far raised £1,400 for Plan International in her bid to help children and young women achieve equal opportunities all over the world.

“Even though child marriage is officially illegal, a girl is married to an adult every two seconds. Some of these girls are as young as 9 and they are removed from their families and from education and have no say in the process.

“Plan International UK is a wonderful organisation that works tirelessly to end child poverty and create opportunities where children can thrive.

“Despite their work being worldwide, it is still a charity that feels very close to me.

Visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jenvinton to make a donation to Jennifer's fundraising page.