Polio victim set to run New York marathon in the gym

A POLIO victim is limbering up to run the New York Marathon without leaving the comfort of her gym.

New-found athlete Jackie Tagg, 54, who had barely strapped on a pair of running shoes in her life, is set to conquer the 26-mile slog on a running machine at the Marine Hotel in North Berwick - 3268 miles from the US city on November 7, the same day as the Big Apple event.

Polio robbed Ms Tagg of an active childhood after the illness caused muscle waste of the left calf, stunted the growth of her Achilles and disfigured some of her toes, but ground-breaking surgery as an infant helped to improve her mobility.

The fledgling athlete is nearing the end of her training for the challenge, which she is running in aid of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and North Berwick Day Centre, and hopes to finish in less than six hours.

She hopes to raise more than 500 for each charity. Anyone interested in sponsoring Jackie can do so via www.poundingforpounds.webs.com