THE MANAGING director of a Petersfield company has gone the extra 26 miles to raise more money for an East Hampshire charity.

Paola Hobson (54), of InSync in Grenehurst Way, ran her first marathon on September 10, in aid of Home-Start Butser, a Petersfield charity for parents who are struggling to cope.

She said: “We are a major supporter of Home-Start Butser, and give some of our annual profits to it.

“But I wanted to do a bit more, so I decided to run the New Forest Marathon.

“It is the first marathon I have done, I started training in April, and the actual race went surprisingly well.

“The last mile was uphill, and I did wonder if I would make it, but all through the race I had a fear of being forced to drop out and letting down everyone who sponsored me, so I kept going.

“And although I had a pain in my knee when I finished, I didn’t collapse over the finish line, I was just very excited to have completed it.”

Home-Start Butser supports local families and young children in times of need and stress.

Paolo’s web page for donations is still open and anyone wishing to donate can go to www.mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/paolahobson