A 47-year-old Mum of two has decided to don her running shoes for the first time in 11 years in a fundraising attempt to save a crumbling church building.

Sarah O’Neill, a fitness instructor from Reading, is a member of the Shinfield Community Church and an avid volunteer for different charities within the community.

On Sunday, May 26, she will be taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon to help raise money to build a new building for the community.

Sarah said: “I’ve set myself a challenge to raise as much money as I can for a cause that is close to my heart.

“For me, a church building is a place where love, hope and peace can be shared. We are so strongly involved in the community so we would love to have a church that can facilitate everything.

“The church hosts toddler mornings, providing an anchor for mums and weekly coffee mornings providing many older and vulnerable people a place to socialise.”

According to members of the church, the building is no longer fit for purpose.

The plan for the building is to refurbish the chapel to bring it up to date and create a community hall in the church grounds.

Sarah added: “I work really closely with the church and the community. My family only moved to Shinnfield Community Church a few years ago and what attracted me to it is the diverse group of people that are involved. It’s so inspiring.

“My kids, Thomas and Bella, are also planning to help me prepare for the marathon by doing their own version of a marathon both running and cycling.”

So far, Sarah has raised over £600 to help the church in their journey to build their new home.

Shinfield Community Church (Formally Shinfield Baptist Church) is located on Fairmead Road and hosts a vast number of community and spiritial events including church services.

Shinfield Baptist Church which started in 1908 faced doubt over its future in 2013 and considered closure before partnering together with other local churches including Wycliffe Baptist Church in Reading.