A BARRY woman has organised a school reunion – as part of her charity fundraising preparations for the London Marathon!

Rhian Lees, of Park Crescent, hopes that money raised from the Barry Sixth Form Reunion (Barry Comprehensive and Bryn Hafren, 1996-1999) on March 23 will help her reach her £2,000 target for the NSPCC.

"We’ve been talking about a reunion for a good couple of years now," she said.

"With Facebook, it’s easier to keep in contact with people, but it would be good to see everyone face to face rather than just online.

"DJ Rollo, who used to be the DJ at sixth form parties when we held them at Cadoxton Conservative Club, will also be there" she added.

Rhian, 32, has already raised £1,300 for the NSPCC, and she hopes the reunion night – complete with raffle and buffet – will boost that total, with funds raised at the event being split between that charity and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

"The CF Trust has been chosen by the families of Matthew Curtin and Michael Conibear, former sixth form pupils who are no longer with us," she explained.

Rhian, who organised a skittles tournament in November as part of her fundraising, is hoping that her first attempt at running a marathon will be a success.

"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run the London Marathon in an Olympic year," she said.

"I have been training since January, doing a long run once a week on a Saturday, with my longest one over 16 miles so far. I did spend the rest of the weekend recovering after that though!

"Winter training has been pretty hard," she added.

"During my first training session in January I got caught in a hailstorm. And recently I was running in the snow along Ffordd y Milleniwm when my old PE teacher Offy Scott drove past and shouted ‘you must be mad running in this!’"

Rhian, who now works as a Principal Planner for DPP, added: "I’ve got a two week holiday to Antigua coming up soon, but I’m going to be taking my trainers with me!"

* To sponsor Rhian to run the London Marathon on April 22 go to: www.justgiving.com/rhianlees2012

* Tickets for the Barry Sixth Form Reunion 1996-1999, on March 23 from 7.30pm at Barry Dockers Sports and Social Club, cost £10. They are available from John Gee, Michelle Hunt and Jonny Knight through Facebook, or from John on 07738 615587 or Rhian at rhianlees581@hotmail.com

* If you would like to donate raffle prizes you can also email Rhian.