A hospice nurse from Barking completed the London Marathon after being inspired by the three-year-old deaf child she is guardian of.

Sue Russell, 38, raised £1,800 for the Sense disability charity, finishing in six-and-a-half hours.

Sue faced challenges fitting in training for the marathon around long hospice shifts, but wanted to run to mark Lillie entering her life.

“I never thought I’d have kids before Lillie came into my life,” Sue said.

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“It just wasn’t on my agenda. But I became her guardian to keep her out the adoption system. I call Lillie my blessing.”

She agreed to be Lillie’s guardian in 2020 after being approached by one of the toddler’s relatives to prevent her being placed in care. Lillie was 11 months old at the time.

Sue ran her first marathon for the charity in 2014 and said she now has a deeper understanding of its mission supporting children and adults with complex disabilities.