FRIENDS of a young mum who died from cancer last year are to take part in the London marathon in her memory.

Vikki Purslow, of Coedpoeth, was only 27 when she learnt she only had months to live and the brave mum-of-two raised more than £33,000 for charity before she died in September last year.

Gemma Burgess and her boyfriend Ian Edwards, of Wrexham, hope to raise £3,200 betwen them for the Willow foundation, which helped Vikki.

Gemma, 27, who works at Colour Supplies with Vikki’s mum Jane, said: “The Willow Foundation helped her and sent her on a trip to London and gave her happy memories.

“We applied to take part in the London marathon in the summer and Vikki was really pleased we were doing it.

“Sadly we never got to tell her we got through because we didn’t know until October and she died in the September.”

The pair received a bit of a setback when Ian, 28, broke his ankle after Christmas.

But Ian, who is a forklift truck driver for Asda, is now out of the cast and is back in training again.

“My training is going really well and I have done 20 miles,” said Gemma.

“Ian had to start his training again on a bike to get his fitness back but we are back to running together again.

“I’m looking forward to the marathon but I am a bit nervous.”

Next month there is a memorial concert for Vikki in Shrewsbury, where she used to live.

Proceeds from the concert, which will be held at St Chad’s Church at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 14, will be split between Nightingale House Hospice where Vikki died and a Shrewsbury charity called Fresh Start New Beginnings (FSNB).

Gemma added: “It’s nice to keep Vikki’s name mentioned, her memory will live on.”
To help sponsor Gemma go to www.justgiving.com/gemma-burgess.