A mother is hoping to run the Virgin Money London Marathon for the second year in a row - but needs to complete a 100-mile challenge before she take her place on the starting line.

Janet Murray, 40, of Milton Hall Road, Gravesend, will be running for the Miscarriage Association during the world famous sporting event on April 26, but in order to do so she must raise £1,500.

In an effort to reach her target Ms Murray, a freelance journalist and PR consultant, is encouraging people to lace up their trainers, pull on their spandex shorts and take part in an Ultra Marathon.

The event is a 100-mile run at Shorne Woods Country Park, in Brewers Road, on Saturday, March 14 from 9am. If the target is not reached, it will carry on until finished on the following day.

More of a get-together than an officially organised running event, anyone can take part and people do not have to run at the country park if they are not available.

The suggested distance is three miles per person and donations can be made at Ms Murray’s London marathon page.

The mother-of-one said she came up with the daunting idea when thinking of new ways to encourage fundraising and keep-fit.

Ms Murray said: “I was trying to think of a running event that was different and would encourage people in the community to come together and do some exercise.

“I’m hoping that if everyone taking part puts in a fiver or a tenner, we should be able to raise around £300 to £400.”

Last year Ms Murray ran in aid of Bliss, a charity that offers support and care to premature babies and their families.

She explained her cause this year was close to the heart.

The chair of governors at Gravesend Grammar School said: “Before I had my daughter I had a miscarriage and after my daughter I had an ectopic pregnancy, which can be potentially life-threatening.

“The charity is about sharing information and offering support. If you have a miscarriage it can be a really lonely time. If you haven’t been through it yourself it is hard to explain.

“You find out you’re pregnant and you have all these hopes and dreams and then you find out you're not going to be a mother.

"You don’t get over it in a couple of days, it’s not like a cough or cold. It can be months or even years and it can be really tough.”

Ms Murray is currently in training for the London marathon and has hit the 15-mile mark.

However, she is still waiting for clearance from her doctor before she can fully push on and prepare for the big day.

She said: “I’m waiting for the go-ahead because after last year I became really anaemic and almost needed a blood transfusion. The doctor was actually amazed I got through without collapsing.”

Ms Murray is also putting on a night of Irish music and Ceili dancing to raise money for her marathon attempt. The event will be held at Gravesend Grammar School in Church Walk, Gravesend and starts at 7.30pm on March 28. Entry is £5.

For information on the Ultra Marathon log on to www.facebook.com/events/1607104182842995/

To visit Janet Murray's Virgin Money London Marathon page log on to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JanetMurray15