Ely runner Pauline Martin is running the London Marathon to highlight a charity close to her heart and she wants to reach out to women who may be experiencing menopause issues.

Pauline, who is 53, but will be 54 when she runs the marathon on April 21, says her main goal is to finish the gruelling 26.2 mile event and she is not too focussed on achieving a fast time.

Pauline says she is not an experienced runner, has never run a marathon, or indeed, any kind of timed race before, and started out by embarking on Couch to 5k in September last year to get herself fit.

"I will be running the marathon to raise money for Kidney Care UK, a charity which supports patients and their families who are suffering from kidney disease," she said.

"My mother lost her battle to kidney disease in 2007 aged just 64, however, during her 16 year battle, she was privileged enough to receive two kidney transplants.

"Her first transplanted kidney failed after only a few months however, the second kidney gave her several years of normal life.

"In that time she represented Scotland in the British Transplant Games and Great Britain in the World Transplant Olympics in Budapest. I would like people to know that you can achieve great things despite the pain and turmoil of kidney disease as well as raising the profile for Kidney Care UK and raise vital funds for them."

Pauline says her second motivation for taking on the challenge is to demonstrate to people that you are never too old to try something new and set yourself challenges – especially women who are at the same age and stage as me.

"Menopause is a huge topic at the moment and as a Life and Wellness Coach, I speak to a lot of women who are struggling with peri menopause and menopause symptoms and feel that life is a struggle.

"I’d like to demonstrate that this stage in life is a great time to embrace new opportunities and prove to yourself that we are all stronger than we think.

I’m not promising to finish the marathon in a super impressive time – my goal is just to finish it in one piece and with a smile on my face and a huge sense of achievement and pride."