A nursery teacher from St Albans is running the London Marathon in memory of her sister, who died at birth.

27-year-old Sophia Garnett, who works at First Place Nurseries, is raising money for Bliss, a charity which provides special care nurses for families of babies born sick or premature.

Ms Garnett’s sister, Alicia, was her parents’ first daughter who was tragically stillborn after her mother went through a full nine-month pregnancy.

If Alicia had lived she would have celebrated her thirtieth last month.

Bliss nurses help families cope with the stress and anxiety that often accompanies their baby’s condition.

The charity aims to have 28 nurses by 2020.

Ms Garnett will take on the 26.2 mile challenge on Sunday, April 21.

She is hoping to raise £1500 for the cause, and she has already collected more than half of her target.  

She is no stranger to long distance running, having run the London Marathon before to raise money for a children’s leukemia charity.

To sponsor her attempt visit www.justgiving.com/SophiaDaisyGarnett.