TWO friends are set to tackle a virtual marathon in a bid to raise funds for the hospice which cared for their parents and grandparents.

Kyra Turnbull, 45, of Colchester, and Kim Henderson, 32, of Clacton, met when sharing a room in Romania as part of St Helena Hospice’s Transylvania Trek last year.

That particular event raised more than £28,000 for the charity, and now, 17 months on, the two are teaming up again to participate in the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, October 3.

Mrs Henderson said it took nothing more than a short text to her friend for them to agree to raise money for the hospice again.

She said: “I think I said something along the lines of ‘Hi, do you fancy doing 26.2 miles – we can make it fun, we’ll go to the pub. It will be good, we can walk it. It will be lovely.”

Mrs Turnbull, meanwhile, admitted that she never would have thought of participating in a marathon had her friend not suggested it.

She said: “No, I’d never thought about the marathon. Certainly not running it – that would have never come up. I would never have thought about it, at all.

“We’re going to start training to a degree and arrange some walks together once all of the restrictions have eased.”

The virtual marathon allows participants to complete the 26.2-mile distance over 24 hours, attracting participants to raise money for charities of their choice.

For Mrs Henderson, the idea of taking on a marathon had always been a possibility.

She said: “The marathon was always a seed in the back of my mind.

“I always thought I’d love to be able to do that but never thought I would physically be able to. I’m definitely not a runner. The virtual Virgin London Marathon is a way to do that.”

Both Kim and Kyra have strong connections with the hospice.

Mrs Henderson’s mother and stepfather were cared for by the hospice, whilst it also cared for Mrs Turnbull’s grandparents at the end of their lives.

“We’re doing this for the hospice,” Mrs Turnbull said. “They have always been really good, really supportive and it’s a local charity – it means a lot to both of us.”

To support the pair, go to www.sthelena.org.uk/marathon.