A SPA woman is preparing to tie up her shoe laces and pound the mean streets of New York as she takes part in its famous marathon.

Sara Rose, who lives close to Droitwich town centre, began her journey today (Wednesday) as she travelled down to London ready to fly out to the USA tomorrow (Thursday).

The 35-year-old, who has lived in the Spa for 18 months, has been training for the mammoth 26-mile run since June when she received confirmation that she'd got in.

But she won't be taking on Sunday's venture by herself as two of her friends, Amanda Jeffrey and Nicola Walker, from Worcester Athletics Club, will be doing it with her.

Sara said: "I've wanted to do a marathon for some time now so I was really pleased when I found out I had been accepted.

"I'm going to be raising money for Multiple Sclerosis as I know a couple of people who suffer from it - it's a horrible illness.

"I'm looking forward to the whole thing, the atmosphere, the run and the time I'll be spending in New York afterwards as I don't get back until next Friday, November 8.

"I think I've done enough training for it, so all I've got to do now is enjoy the experience."

If you would like to sponsor Sara, a nurse in the critical care unit at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, you can do so by sending your donations to PO Box 99, Droitwich, WR9 9ZQ.