A WOMAN who completed the Manchester Marathon in memory of her niece who was killed in a hit and run has said that the 26-mile challenge would be ‘the first of many.’

Olivia Whiteside was just seven when she was struck by a 4x4 while playing at the junction of Billinge Street and Dalton Close, Audley, Blackburn, in July 2006.

The driver of the car was never brought to justice despite extensive appeals. 

Now, Olivia’s aunt Tracy Davies has completed her first marathon for Brake, a national road safety charity which helped Olivia’s family in coping with her death.

Despite setting a fundraising target of £500, by the time she took part in the Marathon, Tracy had raised in the region of £1,000 which she decided to split between Brake and another charity which has helped her over the years, mental health charity Lancashire Mind.

She said: “When we lost Olivia, I suffered quite badly from mental health problems, so I wanted to make sure I could also give back to a charity that does so much for those who could be struggling mentally after losing loved ones. 

“Olivia was very much at the forefront of my mind the whole way around. It was tough and long, but the people around me that I’d been training with and the thought of Olivia really kept me going. 

“I also wore a badge of Olivia on my vest which the lovely people at Silver Lining in Blackburn Market made for me free of charge.

"Every time I was struggling, or I thought I couldn’t go on, I’d touch the badge and it would just remind me of her and why I was doing this. 

“It was like she was right there with me.”

Tracy added: “Brake has been so supportive and to show my thanks I have been consistently raising money for them over the years – with each year’s challenge being slighter bigger than the last.

“It’s hugely important for me to raise not only money, but awareness for this fantastic charity. The work they do is so important to so many people who have suffered the pain of losing a loved one under tragic circumstances. 

“This year was my ultimate challenge and I wanted to raise £500 towards helping other families who find themselves in the same awful circumstances.”

Although the gruelling 26.2mile race proved to be a tough challenge, Tracy has said she hope to take part in more marathons to raise money for charity.

Lisa Kendall, Brake’s fundraising manager, said: “We greatly appreciate the support from Tracy and we are so grateful for her ongoing support.

"We wouldn’t be able to continue our life-saving work supporting families whose lives have been devastated by a road crash and campaigning for safer roads.”