FRIENDS Jo Bailey and Catrin Brown are taking a break from training for the London Marathon to organise a fundraising spring ball.

For Jo, who has completed a number of half marathons since she took up running 18 months ago, it will be the first time she has tackled the ultimate race.

As well as clocking up 20 miles a week, she is also training at Activate gym in Taunton and is raising sponsorship for Children with Cancer UK.

Both women lives in Bishops Lydeard, where their children go to school together.

Catrin has been a runner for eight years and will be raising money for Marie Curie, who supported her family when her late father-in-law had cancer.

They are hosting a spring ball with DJ, live band, raffle and auction at the County Ground, Taunton, to boost their fundraising efforts from 7pm on Saturday, March 15 – for tickets, which are £40, or for anyone willing to supply raffle or auction prizes, contact jobailey90@yahoo.co.uk

*If you wish to sponsor Jo and Catrin, visit http://uk.virginmoney/JoBailey1 or http://www.justgiving.com/Catrin-Brown2