A YOUNG cancer victim from Hereford will be remembered during one of the world’s most famous road races.

Nurse Sophie Watts, 29, from Redhill, died in June this year from rare bile duct cancer leading to her parents, Jennifer and Robert Watts, setting up the charity Sophie’s Star to raise awareness of the condition.

Now her sister-in-law has been chosen to represent St Michael’s Hospice, where Sophie died, in next year’s London Marathon.

Ursula Martin was selected by hospice following a campaign to find a Local Champion to take part in the famous 26-mile route on behalf of St Michael’s.

“Our whole family was shocked and devastated when Sophie was diagnosed with a terminal illness,” stated Mrs Martin, who has a three yearold son, Noah, with Sophie’s brother.

“She was a very special part of our lives and I feel so privileged to be running in her name.

“It is also a fitting way to give something back to St Michael’s Hospice and say thank you for doing an amazing job in looking after Sophie, and the rest of our family.

“Throughout her 10-day stay, Sophie was helped enormously with pain control; she was also helped to relax with complimentary therapies.

“Hospice staff also made it possible for us to spend as much time as we needed with Sophie.”

This will be the first time Mrs Martin has dusted off her running shoes after many years and she hopes her friends, family and also the local community will appreciate the size of the challenge, both physically and psychologically.

Sophie’s Star is raising money for AMMF, which is a charity dedicated to research into bile duct cancer.

All of the funds raised from her challenge will be given directly to the hospice’s redevelopment appeal.