Marathon remembers Martha, the little girl who loved giraffes

2:10pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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A 1987 Reliant Robin painted in the colours of a giraffe is all set to take a Romsey medical student and three of his friends on an epic drive from John o' Groats to Land's End.

Mark Parson and pals, Ryan Norman from Whiteparish, and James Bickley and James Jackson, both from Winchester, are raising money for the Hello Martha Fund.

The charity was set up in memory of James Bickley's little sister Martha, who died in July 2002, just before her 11th birthday, from cystic fibrosis.

And because of Martha's love for giraffes, Mark's yellow Reliant has painted accordingly and the four will be calling at 10 major zoos, including Marwell, en route The four - Mark and James Bickley are medical students and James Jackson and Ryan are working in London after completing their degree courses - met while at Peter Symonds College, Winchester.

They are confident the £600 three-wheeler with an 850 cc engine has the reliability to complete the 1,600-mile round trip to the top of mainland Britain, then down to the western tip of Cornwall and home to Hampshire.

"It was used as a run-around in the Stockbridge area and I have not had a problem with it since I bought it. It is also surprisingly comfortable," said Mark, who reckons the fuel bill won't be too high, as the car does 70 mpg.

Anyone wishing to support the Hello Martha Fund can find details on its website at www.hellomartha.com The site explains that the fund works in association with healthcare professionals and provides respite care and support for holiday needs, such as portable oxygen or a nurse.

It describes Martha as a "pretty, bright and courageous child who bore her illness with great strength and dignity and adds: "Her smiles always bravely hid the pain she endured."