EMOTIONS were running high when Ki Upton completed this year's New York marathon.

It was the first time the 32- year-old bank employee from Goodworth Clatford had ever run a marathon. It was also the first marathon after the World Trade Centre terrorist attacks.

Ki was running in memory of a colleague who died, aged 28, from cancer.

She is hardly able to believe she did the distance. "It took seven hours but I did it," she said. She was part of a 14-member team entered by HSBC in Southampton.

The bank has promised to match every £1 raised by the runners in aid of Imperial Cancer Research. The final total is expected to be in the region of £6,000. Ki received support from friend Julia Pearce who accompanied her on training runs and Bill Mitford and Dave Smith who helped with fundraising. Husband Rob was in New York roaring encouragement from the sidewalks.