A GRANDMOTHER is limbering up for the London Marathon to raise money in memory of a close friend who died from meningitis.

Mary Walpole, 60, will be pounding the pavements on Sunday, April 22, in aid of the Meningitis Trust.

The mum-of-three and grandmother-of-nine is hoping to raise at least £1,600 for the cause, after her close friends and neighbours lost their son to the disease.

Mary, of Roding Close, Great Wakering, was devastated when James Johnson, 15, died in 1991.

James was the son of her friends, Bob and Barbara John-son, who live just around the corner to Mary and her family.

Mary said: “My son David used to get the school bus with James every day. We will never forget what happened just over 20 years ago.

“Dave called for James as normal, but was told he was unwell and they thought he might have flu. Next morning when he called James was in hospital and the day after he was dead.

“It was so quick, but no one who knew James will ever forget the shock of what happened.

“The whole village was devastated and my youngest daughter, who was 13 at the time, wrote an emotional poem which was read out at the funeral.

“Never have I seen a crematorium so packed as it was for James’ funeral.”

Bob and Barbara, of Whitehall Road, Great Wakering, have since dedicated their lives to supporting the Meningitis Trust.

The couple have raised tens of thousands of pounds for the charity since James’s death.

Mary has organised a charity meal at Azzurro Italian restaurant, in London Road, Westcliff, on Friday, March 30, at 7.30pm, as part of her fundraising for the marathon. Tickets cost £25 per head and all money raised will go to the Meningitis Trust. For tickets, call Mary on 01702 217203.

To sponsor her marathon effort, go to www.virginmoney giving.com/MaryWalpole or send a donation to 3 Roding Close, Great Wakering, Essex, SS3 0AE.