A KNUTSFORD woman has taken on her second marathon to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

On Sunday Catherine Smithson tackled the streets of Paris to raise money to help a charity that cares for people with a disease that sadly took away the life of her dad, David.

The Guardian first featured Catherine's story in April 2013 when she ran the London Marathon for the Multiple System Atrophy Trust after her father was diagnosed with the condition in 2008.

Sadly David died in November 2013 and Catherine, 33,who grew up in Knutsford, decided to run around the sights of the French capital on Sunday to raise more money for the charity.

She completed the marathon with work colleagues Lunch Hutchinson and Cat Walkin, and fellow Didsbury residents Helen Jordan and Leanne Birtwistle. Her friend from Amsterdam Ruth Sutherland also joined her for the challenge.

On top of that, her boyfriend Adam Mountford and friend Mike Roberts cycled the 240 miles from London to Paris to meet up with Catherine and her friends.

Speaking before setting off she told the Guardian she wanted to raise the money for the trust after seeing how the rare condition affected her father, who was cared for by her mum Helen on Chelford Road in the town.

"I just wanted to continue raising money for the trust," she said.

"It is a really cruel disease and dad was unable to talk and eat before he died. It is such a rare disease as well – and as a result you can feel quite isolated.

"Doctors are not always aware of the disease and the MSA Trust has a couple of nurses around the UK but to help to raise money for more would be so beneficial to those families that are suffering."

She said she was hoping to complete the course in under four and a half hours – and was looking forward to a couple of days in Amsterdam this week partying away the sore limbs.

"It's a new challenge but it will be a bit different to last time because I know what I am in for at the end of the marathon," Catherine added.

"But I'm hoping it will be a bit easier because there's a few of us doing it this time."

To sponsor Catherine and Adam and to donate to the MSA Trust visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Paris2015.