TWO years ago Lorri Gibson took up running to get in shape.

The mum of two hasn't stopped since.

What started out as a few miles jogging with a friend, has turned into an all consuming hobby.

Since joining Benfleet Running Club in the summer of 2006, she's run one half marathon, and four marathons. What makes it more incredible is that she's just completed two of those in the space of a week.

On Sunday April 6, she ran the Paris Marathon and then yesterday, Lorri, of Burnham Road, Hullbridge, pulled on her running shoes once more to complete the 26.2 mile London Marathon course.

"My legs are hurting a bit," she admitted after the Paris event last week. "But I did it in 4hrs 24 which I'm really pleased with."

When the going gets tough, Lorri, 36, has a very personal reason to keep on moving. She's running in memory of her sister Lisa, who died of a brain tumour at the age of 14.

Lorri was just 13 at the time.

"We didn't know anything was wrong with her," says Lorri. "My mum noticed there was a problem with her eye and she was taken to St Barts Hospital in London. Within two weeks she was on a life support machine.

"We think she must have had a brain tumour for a long time, we just weren't aware of it."

Lorri is running both the Paris and London events for the St Barts Hospital Nursing Amenity Fund.

"The nurses at St Barts did so much for my sister and my family before Lisa passed away," says Lorri. "I would like to repay them by donating money towards their amenity fund to better the environment they work in and the equipment they use."

Lorri, who works for the Royal Bank of Scotland, was inspired to run her first race after reading about a colleague who was taking part in the Great North Run.

"I though I could do that," says Lorri. She did, but when talk of the London Marathon spread amongst the running club, her have a go attitude took over again.

"I thought about it, and decided why not?"

Her first full marathon didn't go quite to plan though.

"From my training I was expecting to finish the race in four and a half hours, but I got to 13 miles and it all went wrong. I had to walk and run the rest. It took five and a half hours in the end. I was really gutted."

"At that point I decided I had to do another one."

So Lorri, mum of Jade, 17, and Keye, 11, signed up to the Luton marathon that December. That went better and she set her sights on improving her London Marathon time.

Unfortunately she didn't get a place and instead applied for the Paris event. Only to secure a London place through her partner Andy's company.

Leaving her facing the prospect of running two marathons on two consecutive Sundays.

"It was a big challenge, but I thought I've got to do it."

In training she's been notching up 40 miles every week, alongside friend Lorraine Peters, who also completed the two races.

"A couple of months ago, I thought I'd have a nice year off to do smaller races. But I knew once I've finished these two it would be a case of what am I going to train for next? So I've just booked to do the Hastings marathon in December," she smiles.

So what's harder running a marathon or bringing up two children?

"Raising kids definitely. It's more time consuming and you don't get a medal for it."

To sponsor Lorri visit www.justgiving.com/lorrigibson