A woman from Great Dunmow is tackling her first London Marathon to support the Children's Liver Disease Foundation - which helped her when she was a child.

Twenty-six-year-old Alice Wright, who is working as financial analyst while studying accountancy, is hoping to raise £2,000 for the charity.

She said: "When I was six weeks old I was diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AD), a type of liver disease that is a genetic disorder and lifelong.

"Luckily for me, it was caught super early which meant my parents were able to guide me properly and I knew what I should and shouldn’t do in order to be as healthy as possible.

"With the help of the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, my parents were able to understand my illness, find out how best to look after me and get support from other parents going through the same thing.

"The charity provides so much support for parents in this situation as well as helping children and young adults connect with others who understand what they’re living with – it can sometimes be quite lonely!"

Alice explained that, as a keen runner, she has "always wanted" to run the London Marathon.

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She added: "When I saw the opportunity to do it for CLDF I jumped at the chance, particularly because my dad ran it years ago and I wanted him to be proud of me for doing it as well.

"I’d like to make it round in under four hours but my main aim is to complete it, raise as much as I can and know I’ve given something back to a charity which is very close to my heart."

Rebecca Cooper, chief executive of the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, said: "We are delighted that Alice is doing the London Marathon for us.

"It’s wonderful to know that a young person who has grown up with a liver disease is fit and well enough to take on such a challenge and we wish her all the very best for the day."

Alice has already surpassed her initial fundraising goal. To donate go to https://2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/alice-wright.