A MEDICAL student who is running a half marathon for cleft palate research has exceeded her £600 target.

Emily Shrimpton, of Wickham St Paul, was born with a cleft palate, but had years of operations to minimise its effects.

The 22-year-old is gearing up to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London next Sunday.

Thanks in part to the response from Gazette readers, she has now reset her target at £750.

She said: “Lots of people have commented on it and I have got donations from people I have never met.”

She is raising money for Cleft, which researches how the palate is used during speech.

To sponsor Emily, visit justgiving.com/emilys halfmarathon