A NEWPORT woman will run her first marathon when she heads to the Big Apple to raise money for charity.

Nisha Harish, 32, will run the 26.2 mile New York City Marathon on November 7 which she aims to finish in five hours.

The former St Josephs High School pupil is running the marathon to raise money for older people's charity Age Cymru.

She said: “The UK has an ever increasing ageing population, but the elderly are largely over-looked. Everything from mass media, new technology and advertising is geared towards the younger generation, often leaving the elderly lonely, unsupported and even neglected."

This is Miss Harish's first marathon and she admits to being more of a gym-goer than a runner.

"I've been training which has been pretty intensive," she said.

Miss Harish currently lives in London where she works as a management consultant for Ernst and Young.

But is fitting in her training which involves getting up at 5am five days a week to run through the likes of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James’ Park as part of the 16 week training plan she is following.

She was back in Newport last week to visit her parents who still live in Risca Road and who's father, Narinder Harish, is a local magistrate.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Miss Harish can do so at www.justgiving.com/Nisha-Harish