A LAUNCESTON woman is running in this year's London Marathon in memory of a friend who sadly died of Cardiomyopathy, disease of the heart muscles, last August.

Merwyn Quick, who works in the town, owns Crunch Gym with husband Mark, and instructs Taekown-Do and kick-boxing classes in Launceston, Okehampton and Tavistock.

She has been doing martial arts for 23 years and currently holds a fourth degree black belt in Taekwon-Do, third degree black belt in kick-boxing and second degree black belt in Shotokan Karate.

Although she has taken part in many five-kilometre Race for Life events, various triathlons across the country and completed the Plymouth Half Marathon twice, Merwyn has not run a full marathon before.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.