A BABY girl's legacy to help terminally ill children has inspired two county roofers to run the New York Marathon.

Octavia Mary Portia Perry from Ullingswick was just three months old when she died of a rare form of leukaemia.

Her parents, Phil and Jackie Perry, set up The Octavia Appeal Fund in her memory. The Acorn's Children's Hospice Trust, a charity Octavia's family would almost certainly have called on had their beautiful baby daughter lived, has the fund's support.

Now Phil's work colleagues, Phil Bufton and Rhys Jones, of Central Roofing and Building Services, Kingstone, have pledged to run the marathon in New York next month in Octavia's memory.

They hope sponsors will help them raise more than £10,000 for Acorns, which is building a new hospice for sick children in the three counties.

"It's an exciting challenge for both of us and we're hoping to raise some money for a very good cause. We are currently running around 40 miles a week in preparation," they say.

They will be cheered on around the 26-mile route by Phil and Jackie on November 2.

To sponsor Phil and Rhys contact Central Roofing on 01981 250002.