A SUPER slimmer has shed the pounds as she prepares to run the London Marathon for charity.

Amanda Riley, 37, of Carisbrooke Avenue, Great Clacton, has lost more than five stone in the last nine months.

She decided to sign up for the 2013 Marathon to boost charity Bliss, which supports people with premature babies.

Amanda’s son Shane, now three years old, was born 12 weeks early and weighed just two pounds.

He had to spend four months in hospital before being allowed home.

Shane pulled through, and Amanda has pledged to complete the marathon to raise cash for the charity which supported her and her son after the birth.

She said: “I wanted to do something special to give something back to the charity for everything they did to help me us during the experience."

When she started training Amanda was 15 stone 12, but is now down to ten stone 12.

She added: “I never dreamed I’d be able to do something like the marathon.

“It has been a lot of hard work to get to this stage, but I am absolutely determined. This is my way of giving something back."

People can sponsor Amanda’s marathon effort online at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AmandaRiley26