A POLICE sergeant is to run the London Marathon in memory of a 17-year-old girl who died from Leukaemia.

Natasha Shaw, from Burnley police, is dedicating the 26-mile run to Yasmin Arshad.

Sgt Shaw, who works for the hate crime and diversity unit, will also be raising money for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Through her work she met Yasmin's father Mohammed Arshad, known as Ashy, who is a youth worker in Pendle.

Sgt Shaw said: "About six months ago I found out that Ashy had two years previously lost his beautiful daughter Yasmin to Leukaemia.

"Around the same time I was given an Amir Khan boxing glove by the Free Spiritual Centre to auction off for charity.

"I got talking to Ashy about this and he told me that his daughter Yasmin loved Amir Khan.

"With this in mind I told Ashy that I would donate half of the money raised for this boxing glove to the Anthony Nolan Trust to help keep the memory of Yasmin.

"It just seemed to be a natural progression that when I decided to run the 2008 London Marathon that I approach Ashy and ask if I could run in memory of Yasmin. Thankfully Ashy and his family gave me their blessing.

"I have been training hard for this walk round the block and hope to achieve around a four hour time. If I do this I will take almost 40 minutes off my previous time. If I manage this I will be overwhelmed."

Mr Arshad paid tribute to Sgt Shaw.

She said: "My family have been deeply touched and honoured by Natasha's kind gesture to run the London Marathon for the Anthony Nolan Trust in memory of Yasmin.

"It is a fantastic charity that helps saves the lives of people, especially children with life threatening illnesses."

Sgt Shaw is also organising a number of fundraising events, including a seventies night at the Fence Gate, Wheatley Lane Road, Fence, on March 22 at 7.30pm.

Tickets can be obtained by emailing natasha.shaw@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.

Sgt Shaw has also set up a website - see link below.