A woman has embarked on a gruelling triple marathon challenge to raise money for a hospice.

Deborah Boland, 38, has already completed the New York Marathon.

She is now gearing up for the marathons in Paris and London -- both of which take place next April.

It is all in aid of collecting more cash for the Manorlands hospice, in Oxenhope.

Miss Boland, who has a home in Stanbury, said the New York run was tough.

"It was harder than I expected," she said. "It was very hot -- 71 degrees."

She reached the finishing line in 4 hours and 41 minutes, but thought she could have done better.

"I was quite disappointed as I had set my heart on four hours," she said.

"It made me aware of what I've got to do," she added. She wanted to lose another stone in weight before the next marathon. "I know I can do it if I get fitter," she said.

Miss Boland's training programme for New York included a 20-mile long run on the South Downs.

Before she takes on the Paris marathon she will run in half-marathons, and she also plans to take part in a special week-long running club in Tenerife.

She said she always ran in a "lucky" blue vest and hoped to have a canine running partner in France.

"Hopefully, my dog Millie will be coming with me to Paris," she said.

She said the rules did not allow Millie to run with her in New York, but she thought the French organisers might be less strict. "I only really got into running in May of this year," she said.

"One of the first things I did was fall over a stile in Haworth.

"Now I go out any time I can fit it in."

Deborah, pictured, said she could now run about 15 to 16 miles quite happily.

"I've been really lucky with injuries and I've got a good physio," she added.

She admitted it was hard to juggle marathon training and work commitments, but said it had got easier with time.

"When I started it was actually very difficult to go out running," she said.

"Training can be boring -- thank God for the iPod invention!"

She decided to raise money for the Manorlands care centre because it was so well known locally.

"I thought it would be easier to generate sponsorship for something so many people here know about," she said.