CATWALK queen Agyness Deyn prepared for today’s London Marathon by visiting youngsters in Africa.

The Rawtenstall supermodel flew to Tanzania to see where money she will raise, as part of the ‘Oxglam’ team, will be spent.

Miss Deyn, who is taking part in the run with friend and designer Henry Holland, also took up boxing to get in shape.

She said the pair had been working with a coach in New York and were now raring to go.

The former Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School student said: “It was a life-changing trip.

“I’ve visited Africa lots of times for work and seen incredible things, but it was great to meet the local communities.

“Some of the things we saw were heart-breaking, but people absolutely want to help themselves.

"It’s going to be fun running the marathon with Henry and the rest of the Oxglam squad, and it’s also great knowing that Oxfam will put the money we raise to such good use,” she added.

The ‘Oxglam’ squad also includes international mod- els David Gandy, Tuuli Shipster, actress Emma Pierson and Tom Smith and Russell Leetch, from the Editors. The money raised will go towards Oxfam’s progr-ammes in Honduras, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka.

The 28-year-old beauty said she hoped to complete the 26.2-mile race by trying to forget about how long it is.

Agyness said she would also be taking inspiration for the marathon from the Tom Hanks movie ‘Forrest Gump’, in which his character runs for days at a time.

She said: “My tactic for getting through the 26 miles is to go steady, and stop thinking about how far I have to go.

“Like Forrest Gump, I just keep running.”

A MARATHON-MAD pensioner is preparing to take on Britain’s most famous road race for an amazing 24th time this weekend.

Kitty Garnett, from Sabden, has run the London Marathon every year since 1988 and, at 73 years old, she has no plans of slowing down.

The former NHS worker, who is a member of Clayton Harriers running group, said: “It is exciting.

“I enjoy running and that’s why I keep running.

“When I started running no-one imagined I would ever do even a half-marathon.

"It is a challenge, but I get a buzz out of racing at any distance.

“There is a real camaraderie between the runners – even if you’re at the back.”

Kitty, who ran her first marathon aged 50, is aiming to raise money for an Alzheimer’s charity.

She said running has become slightly easier since she quit work aged 55.

Kitty, a former tutor at Calderstones NHS Trust, Whalley, said: “Every year when you get to my age it’s just great to be in it. I’m nowhere near as old as the oldest competitor.

“I came into it late and didn’t even buy my first running shoes until I was 47.”

TWO Ribble Valley runners are hoping to raise charity cash by completing the marathon.

Jackie Crowther and Faith Lawton will take part in the world-famous race in a bid to raise much-needed funds in aid of the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Association.

PSP, a neurodegenerative condition that affects movement, balance and vision, claimed the life of Jackie’s father, Graham Crowther, in 1994.

Some of the symptoms are very similar to those of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which can often lead to misdiagnosis.

Mr Crowther was well known, having been a keen member of Clitheroe Golf Club and Ribblesdale Rotary Club for many years.

Together with seeking to raise awareness of this condition, Jackie and Faith have set a fund-raising target of £1,600.