ANNA Markham is busy limbering up in preparation for this year's Flora London Marathon. The 25-year-old, of Spring Road, Ipswich, is hoping to raise £1,500 for Ipswich Hospital's Oncology Department.

ANNA Markham is busy limbering up in preparation for this year's Flora London Marathon.

The 25-year-old, of Spring Road, Ipswich, is hoping to raise £1,500 for Ipswich Hospital's Oncology Department.

Miss Markham's own father Brian suffered from non-Hodgkinson's Lymphoma, and was treated for months by staff at Ipswich Hospital.

She said: "It was a hard time, especially for my mum and my younger sister. He in hospital for so long after the bone marrow transplant. The hardest thing was leaving him there every day.

"I feel relieved that he is OK and grateful and hopeful for the future.

"After all the care the hospital shown my father, and the way they helped him out, I wanted to given something back. They were really good. They provided really good care."

Miss Markham decided to try running the April 18 marathon.

She said: "I am quite fit and I have always done some running, but now I am doing that little bit more. I try and run about three to four times a week.

"I am pleased - but a little bit nervous."

Brian, 47, of Sidegate Lane West, Ipswich, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkinson's lymphoma in June 1999, after he found a grapefruit-sized lump in his stomach.

He underwent surgery, nine months of chemotherapy and one month of radiotherapy in Ipswich Hospital.

But 18 months later - in 2001 - it came back and he had six months more chemotherapy.

Luckily, it was successful and Mr Markham was in remission. He then had a bone marrow transplant in March last year in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Mr Markham said: "I have had another scan and am clear at the moment and am now waiting for another scan.

"I think it is brilliant that she in running the marathon. They are doing so much good work at Ipswich Hospital.

"The doctors and nurses in Ipswich Hospital and at Addenbrooke's are brilliant."