A NURSERY teacher is getting ready to lace up her running shoes and take on two marathons in the space of just five weeks.

Abby Ingham will take on the London Marathon this weekend before taking to the start line in Edinburgh at the end of May.

The determined fundraiser set herself a target of £2,000 to help African children but, before covering a single step, she has well and truly smashed that target.

The Gullane mum has collected more than £4,000 for Kipawa Trust International, a Scottish charity which provides feeding programmes for children living in poverty in Kenya.

Abby, who teaches at Wallyford Primary School, said: “I’d never done any running before I moved to East Lothian four years ago, but I’ve always wanted to be involved in an iconic event like the London Marathon.

“As a teacher myself, I was keen to support the fantastic work which Kipawa does to transform the lives of Kenyan schoolchildren.

“It’s a relatively small charity, run entirely by volunteers, so I know that every pound raised goes straight towards helping the kids.”

The mum-of-three’s initial target of £2,000 would be enough to pay for a nursery teacher in the Ruiru region, north of the country’s capital Nairobi, for a whole year.

However, boosted by a series of community events, including a sell-out Hogmanay party in Gullane Village Hall and a curry night catered by the East Lothian-based business Spice Pots, Abby has smashed that target and become the charity’s most successful fundraiser ever.

Clare Jones, also of Gullane, and Bill Stevenson, chief executive of The Boys’ Brigade, of Stenton, are trustees of the charity.

Clare said: “We’re absolutely thrilled.

“As well as raising enough to pay for a nursery teacher, Abby’s efforts will also pay to feed 150 extra children for a whole school year.

“For many of these children, school meals are the only food they receive all day, so this money will make a huge difference to their lives and their communities.

“It’s amazing what can be done with just a few pounds, so every donation really does help.”

Abby, of the village’s Middleshot Road, has been training since before the end of last year and is counting down to taking on her third marathon, after completing the Edinburgh Marathon twice.

The 37-year-old has promised to take her medals for completing the marathons to the school and added: “I have run the Edinburgh Marathon twice – last year and the year before that – but I would not say I am a completely natural runner.

“It still kind of worries me doing the full distance and it is still a real challenge.”

To make a donation and support Abby, go to her fundraising page at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AbbyIngham