A DAUGHTER from Winchmore Hill is racing in memory of her mother in the London Marathon on April 17.

Sarah Bouette, 23, of Winchmore Hill Road, is running for Sue Ryder Care, a charity that provides care for complex long-term illnesses such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

Her mother died of cancer when Sarah was six.

“The thought of her will be keeping me going to the finish,” she said.

Her mother, Theresa Bouette, was one of the first to try the new Temozolomide drug in 1992, when operations and radiotherapy could not completely remove a brain tumour.

This treatment helped her feel well, but did not completely cure her and she died in November 1993.

“I still remember her being there in my life. I remember newspapers visiting us and my mum was on ITV News.

“It’s only now I look back and understand about the drug,” Miss Bouette said.

She has been training at least three times a week since May last year, running the six miles from her work at EMC Advertising Gifts in Finchley to her Winchmore Hill home in an hour.

She said: “It’s not an easy challenge. It’s been hard to schedule life in. I’ve had to sacrifice a few things. I’m at the point where I want it to be over.

“I started out determined that I’d do the 27 miles in under five hours but now I’m not putting a time on it. The main thing is to finish the race."

She said she felt fantastic after a 14 mile run last Monday.

“I’m doing the Marathon for those people who had long term illnesses are not forgotten, especially my Mum, and another family member recently died of a stroke.

“I don’t even know how I’ll feel. There are stages, from nerves and excitement and even to anger until you get to that finish and it’s completely emotional.

“I have visions of breaking down in tears.”

Her best friends are supporting her on the day and music such as Boyz II Men ‘s ‘A Song For Mama’ motivates her.

“When I feel like giving up I know I won’t because Mum will be close to my mind and I know I’m doing this for her."

But she has not met her target of £2,750 for Sue Ryder Care.

She said: “It’s definitely a challenge I want to succeed at. I want to continue to fundraise and maybe do Race for Life next year.

“I want to make a difference and if the money can benefit people with long term illnesses it will be worth it.”

To sponsor Sarah, visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for "Sarah Bouette".