A DETERMINED ultra-marathon runner and cousin of farmer and Tynedale rugby player Stu Ridley – who died from a brain tumour aged 25 – is hoping to smash the record for the fastest known time to run the length of Hadrian’s Wall.

Izzy Milburn, from Norfolk, is running the length of the wall next Saturday, to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity as part of the Stay Strong Stu fund-raising initiative, which was set up after Stu, from Wark, died three years ago.

She hopes her past experience can spur her on to beat the record along the 84-mile route, which currently stands at 16 hours 25 minutes.

Izzy will start her run on August 4 from Bowness-on-Solway at 5am and aims to be at Wallsend at 9pm.

Despite no previous experience of the first quarter of the route to Carlisle, Izzy will have laminated directions on hand to guide her along the way.

However, in order to officially record the fastest known time, various strict protocols have to be carried out.

Izzy must film the time on her watch, video at each aid station and write up a race report afterwards. “Every long race I have undertaken I’ve written Stu’s name on my arm, and this run will be no exception,” she said.

Donations can be made at: www.justgiving.com/fund raising/izzy-milburn2