A MARATHON runner has donated her medal and sponsorship money in memory of a 'gentle giant' who helped disabled children.

Family friend Georgina Lonican, 29, of Leicester Road, Blackburn, was joined for the final seven miles of the Blackpool marathon by the oldest children of Chris Archer, who died last August.

Chris, a volunteer for the Blackburn branch of Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied (PHAB) suffered a heart attack while his wife Veronica was pregnant with their fifth child. Veronica, 35, who lives with sons Jason, 13, Wayne, 10, Nathan, eight, Jordan, four and Christopher, eight months, in Monmouth Road, said: "Her feet were badly blistered and she was so tired but she kept going.

"I am so very proud of her and Chris would be too, she even gave her medal to the baby so he will know how special his dad was." Georgina, a store assistant at Tesco, Blackburn, completed the run in seven and a half hours and hopes to have raised around £300 for PHAB.

She said: "I don't think I would have finished if it wasn't for the kids at the end. It was highly emotional."

Chris, who was a joiner and builder until he lost some mobility after a stroke, gave children lifts, looked after them during play sessions and carried out many odd jobs.

Tracy O'Connor, PHAB leader, said the money will be put towards a summer trip for the group's 19 members.