An East Hampshire teenager will belatedly celebrate her 18th birthday by pounding the capital’s streets in the hope of curing a progressive disease which claimed her grandfather’s life.

Olivia Sydenham will be one of the youngest runners in this year’s London Marathon as the entrant, a coach at Flex Gymnastics Club in Petersfield, turns 18 a few days before the April 26 event.

The East Meon teenager is running in aid of PSPA, a charity which helps people living with two progressive diseases: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD). There is currently no cure for either with her grandfather, George Fogarty, sadly dying of PSP last year.

“Olivia decided she wanted to raise awareness of the disease but also to raise money, as the charity do an amazing job but also fund vital research projects,” said Olivia’s mother, Catherine.

“Grandad was my biggest supporter and inspiration growing up,” said Olivia.

“He used to love the outdoors, which was shown as he served in the RAF in his younger years, where he was a mechanic on the Chinooks at Odiham.

“This created a strong bond between me and him as I am applying for the Army. Grandad guided me to love the outdoors.

“Grandad would always be interested in what my next event was and where I'd been,” said Olivia, who has not done long-distance running before.

“This meant that we had time to create a closer relationship and bond before he passed away.”

George suffered from PSP for nine years during which time the family watched him deteriorate.

“He lost his ability to move, swallow, see and do the things he loved - it was agonising,” said the family.

Olivia hopes to raise £2,500 and is fundraising through JustGiving. Her page can be found on the site by searching for ‘Olivia Sydenham’.