THE memory of best friend Katherine Hou-ghton will push Carolyne Connolly through the pain barrier when she runs the London Marathon in April.

Cheering her on every step of the way will be Bob and Angela Houghton, from Goodworth Clatford, who lost their only daughter, Katherine, to leukaemia at the age of 26.

'Team Katherine' is calling upon Andover Advertiser readers to support Carolyne in her quest to raise a substantial four figure sum for Leukaemia Research.

Katherine's mum Angela, aged 58, said: "When Katherine died, our immediate reaction was that we have to do something to help Leukaemia Research.

"This is a plea from the heart."

Katherine was diagnosed with leukaemia in September 1999, just after graduating from Southa-mpton University. Caro-lyne, who described Katherine as her soulmate after meeting at the age of seven, was travelling in Australia at the time and boarded the first flight home when she heard the news.

"I was about to go to Ayre's Rock when I found out.

"I stopped working when it happened because I needed her to get better and she needed me to be there," Carolyne said. Despite bravely fighting leukaemia, Katherine died peacefully in The Royal South Hants Hospital in November 2000.

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser.