It's 26 miles long, it's her first  marathon but it's in Sweden and it's very flat .....and that is why Dr Jessica  Gray is pulling on her running shoes for charity.

Our paediatrics first year junior doc is competing in the ASICS Stockholm Marathon, on June 1 with colleagues Kieran Jankowski and Chris Richards. She's running for the Forget-Me-Not Children's Hospice which provides support to families where children are very poorly with life-threatening illnesses.

She says: I am running my first (and hopefully last) marathon for the hospice because "the magic of yes" and is already carb-loading ahead of the challenge.

She explains: " Last year, I ran the Sheffield Half during my finals for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice. This year, I thought the only way I could top this would be to run my first marathon whilst working my first year as a junior doctor. I won't lie, on-calls are proving to be relatively obstructive of any attempt at training, although I have already started carb loading..."

She says working in West Yorkshire hospitals she has seen the traumas some families go through due to ill health and/or losing their loved ones and adds: "So what is a bit of pain and embarrassment doing what I despise the most, running, if it helps fundraise even the smallest amount for a better cause.

Here's her justgiving page to support her.www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jessica-Gray14

She adds: "Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, provides support to families within the West Yorkshire and East Lancashire area, are relatively unique in that they support families even during pregnancy when the devastating news is broken that their unborn baby has a life-threatening illness.

"They support families in hospital, at their own homes, and at the hospice, Russell House, for free and for as long as is required, including following the loss of a child.

"However, it costs over £4million a year to run these 24/7 services, with less than 3% of this being government funded, and only then, do they still only reach 15% of the families who need them. CQC awarded them 'outstanding', placing them in the top 1% of healthcare services in the country. More children deserve this quality of care. Forget Me Not have recently set up Grace's Place, which covers parts of North Manchester but the dream is to keep expanding."

She adds: "Being lucky enough to be an auntie to three beautiful and hilarious children has made me even more passionate about this cause."

"Forget Me Not's mission is simple – we are here to say yes to children and families."