A SISTER who has taken on her tragic sibling's bucket list is set to complete her latest challenge — running the London marathon.

Gemma Walshaw admits: “I was allergic to running and I hated it."

But, on April 28, Gemma, aged 32 and from Astley, will take part in the event in memory of her sporty younger sister Victoria Harris who had always wanted to run the famous race.

Victoria died suddenly in 2015 after hitting her head in a fall while on a walk in the Lake District with her mum Carol Allenby Carr.

Her devastated family vowed to continue the fundraising Victoria had started for Manchester-based charity Reuben’s Retreat which helps bereaved families and children with life-limiting illnesses and have so far raised around £20,000.

They also took on Victoria’s “bucket list” of things she wanted to do and Carol, a travel counsellor in Bolton area, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro because Victoria wanted to.

Gemma — married to Rob and mum to Macie, aged seven, and three-year-old Oliver — always admired her athletic sister. “Vic was great at sports, especially running,” recalled Gemma.

“I went out running with her once and just couldn’t do it. I ended up crying. When I tried again, I broke out in an itchy rash.”

She started going to a local gym two years ago to improve her fitness and used the treadmills. But when the gym had a power cut, a friend suggested running on the roads.

“I really wasn’t sure I could do it at first,” she said. “I tried four miles and then committed myself to the Manchester 10K last year.” She trained hard and signed up for a half marathon, by now, running regularly.

She wanted to run the London Marathon to fulfil another of her sister’s dreams.

Now, in spite of several setbacks — including dropping a tin of beans on her foot, breaking her toe — she will join the line-up at the famous race, spurred on by her family.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she stated. “I’ve got my music playlist. Vic is often with me when I run so I will do it for her.”

• To support Gemma go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=GemmaWalshaw&pageUrl=1