AN ABERGAVENNY optician preparing to run her 10th marathon in Paris and has raised more than £850 for charity.

Jane Truscott, of The Optic Shop, Cross Street, travelled to France this week ahead of the Paris Marathon which takes place on Sunday.

Ms Truscott, 44, ran the first of nine marathons in Dublin in1998 following her retirement from club and international rugby.

Since then she has completed marathons in Dublin, Cardiff, Brighton, London and most recently in California, North America and has been training in and around Abergavenny since October with her two English Springer Spaniels, Crosby and BB.

She is one of more than 40,000 to gain a place in the event and will be running for the Abergavenny Blind Club, which needs to raise about £2,500 a year to pay for transport costs.

Ms Truscott, who hopes to complete the 26-mile marathon, known as Le Marathon de Paris, in four hours, said: “The training has been going really well, despite the weather’s best efforts to prove otherwise.”

“I did my final eight-mile run on Monday morning so this week is all about diet and keeping the bugs and germs away.”

“The big challenge is of course on Sunday and hopefully I’ll compete the course in just under four hours.”

“I would like to say a big thank you to all our customers for their very kind donations – big or small every little helps.”

To sponsor Ms Truscott call in to The Optic Shop, Cross Street, Abergavenny or you can also phone 01873 855664.