ARTIST and sculptor Polly Gedney who is to fulfil an ambition to run in the London marathon to raise funds for a charity supported by Dame Vera Lynn, had the chance to meet the forces sweetheart this week.

Mother of two Mrs Gedney, 31, is running the marathon to raise money for the charity SOS (Stars Organisation Supporting Cerebral Palsy) of which the main beneficiary will be the Dame Vera Lynn School for Parents which works to educate young children with cerebral palsy.

Mrs Gedney met Dame Vera on Monday at a reception at the barracks of the Kings Royal Hussars.

The mother of two cheered on her husband, Felix, when he ran the marathon five years ago.

But as the mother of two boys she always excused herself saying she did not have the time to train.

But this year she will be one of the many pounding the streets of the capital after her husband entered he for it and she has been training since November.

Mrs Gedney, who lives in Chirton, near Devizes, has been training since November.

She has never run a marathon before and is hoping to complete the London Marathon in four and a half hours.

"It is quite a scary experience," she said.