Former Barry girl to run Cardiff Half Marathon in memory of her brother (From Barry And District News)

Former Barry girl to run Cardiff Half Marathon in memory of her brother

12:20pm Friday 12th October 2012 in News By Sharon Harris

A FORMER Bryn Hafren pupil has pledged to go some extra miles in a charity fundraising drive in memory of her brother.

40-year-old Laura Rispoli, previously of St Paul's Avenue, Barry, has set out to complete two half marathons and a 10-mile run in tribute to Shaun Andrews, who died aged 34, in September 2007.

Mum-of-one Laura is raising funds for Barnardo's Cymru.

She has already completed the first half marathon - in Ealing on September 30 - and will line up for this weekend’s Cardiff Half marathon, before taking on the Richmond-upon-Thames 10-mile race on October 21. Laura said her brother Shaun, a dad of two, had died of heart failure caused by a drinking binge in his cousin's flat.

She said: "I wanted to do something for a children's charity, where the children are more vulnerable. "I believe if you get the message across at an early age about drink and drugs, then it can make a huge difference.

"I did a few half marathons in my 20s but nothing for more than a decade. I find running so therapeutic and it helped me immensely in coping with losing Shaun and almost losing my mum."

To sponsor Laura, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LauraRispoli