A LOCAL gallery owner has chosen the Harrow Times appeal, Caring for Kids in aid of CLIC Sargent, as the beneficiary of her tenth marathon run which takes place on Sunday.

This is the second time that Debbie De Beer, 48, of West Harrow, will donate her time and energy to the appeal.

The artist and mother-of two, kindly organised Finding the Edges, an art exhibition and silent auction at the Fovea Gallery, in Vaughan Road, which raised £656 for the appeal earlier this month.

The exhibition gave Martin Sears, 22, of Boxtree Lane, Harrow Weald, the chance to show his art and computer animations.

Martin was diagnosed with bone cancer at 17. His artwork was a vital part of his recovery and he is now in remission.

Debbie wants to increase the exhibition's total sum to £1,000 and has set up a web page so people can sponsor her.

She said: "It has been a really good experience working with Martin and meeting his family and friends and I was quite inspired by the amount we raised from the auction.

"It just seemed like a good opportunity to put my back into a cause."

Travelling to La Rochelle in France on Saturday, Debbie will be joined by her partner, Gary Corkill, 55, to cheer her on.

Running since 2001, she has raised money for St Luke's Hospice in Kenton and a women's refuge.

In the run up to Sunday's race, Debbie has been training six days a week and running for up to four hours every weekend.

He said: "I started running because I felt unfit and I wanted to stop smoking.

"Once I did a half marathon a full marathon seemed more in reach.

"A friend had a place in the London Marathon that they could not use, so by chance I got offered this place about two months before the marathon.

"My brother has run about 50 marathons and he is the one who encouraged me to go ahead."

To sponsor Debbie, visit www.justgiving.com/debbiedebeer or call 020 8357 2924.

To make a direct donation, please make cheques payable to CLIC Sargent and send them to the CLIC Sargent Appeal, Harrow Times, Caxton Court, Caxton Way, Watford, Herts WD18 8RJ.