A woman from Chorleywood, who lost her baby nephew to the heart muscle disease cardiomyopathy, is running the London Marathon to help the fight against the disease.

Pippa Vickers, a 34-year-old mother of two, from Grovewood Close, is running in memory of her sister Michele’s baby Elliot Jake Tiley-Hill, who died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at five months.

Pippa said: "I wanted to run the marathon in the memory of my beautiful nephew who died in June 2012. I am sure it will be a very emotional day for us all."

Cardiomyopathy affects people of all ages, usually runs in families and is the biggest medical cause of sudden death in the under 35s.

Pippa, who works in learning and development for Deloitte in London, hopes to run the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday, April 13, in under four hours 30 minutes and raise more than £2,000 for the Cardiomyopathy Association.

She has already had £1,500 pledged in sponsorship.

She said: "I am really loving training for the marathon, although it’s a bit of a struggle to fit it around life with a two-year-old and four-year-old.

"I’m looking forward to enjoying the crowd on the day. The support from everyone creates such a fantastic atmosphere. Thoughts of Elliot will keep me going when it gets tough as well."

On the day Pippa will be bringing a legion of supporters, including her husband Darren, two children Arthur and Milly, parents Nick and Karin and sisters Michele, Rachel and Ailsa.

Anyone who wants to add to Pippa’s fundraising efforts can do so by visiting her Virgin Giving page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PippaVickers

For more information about cardiomyopathy www.cardiomyopathy.org