A doctor whose close friend died of breast cancer is to pound the streets of New York to raise funds for hospices which care for the terminally ill.

Dr Kate London, pictured, an associate specialist in dermatology at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, hopes to raise £2,500 for the Hospice Association by running the marathon on November 2.

The association is close to Dr London's heart as her friend Halifax GP Kath Hosker died aged 38, from breast cancer.

Dr London, of Slead Avenue, Brighouse, ran the London Marathon in 1998, but has only run half-marathons since. "Kath was a doctor in Halifax and we did our GP training together," she said.

"She left a husband and small children but at least knowing that they will have somewhere they can go and someone to talk to makes thing a little easier.

"Hospices give a lot of help, advice and support to patients who are terminally ill and their families."

Dr London, 41, is running 40 miles a week to train for the marathon and will build up to 50 miles a week.

She is to run the marathon with four friends - all raising money for the Hospice Association and Wakefield Hospice. She is hoping to obtain sponsorship from friends and colleagues as well as drug companies who supply St Luke's.

"I've worked in a hospice to cover someone's maternity leave and I know I haven't got the skills to do it but the people that work there are highly skilled and work incredibly hard," said Dr London, who is married with two children aged seven and ten. "The more money we can raise, the more we can extend their role."

The marathon starts on Statten Island and ends in Central Park. Dr London will travel to the New York for the weekend with her husband, children and her mother.

Anyone who would like to sponsor her or make a donation to the Hospice Association should call (01274) 365668.