Hospital manager Helen Lloyd is running a marathon around Dublin on Halloween to raise funds for an appeal to help premature and sick babies.

The boss of Cromer Hospital is a marathon regular, having run 15 previously, but never for charity.

The Cots for Tots appeal at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which runs the Cromer satellite was looking for someone to do the event, so she stepped forward - and will be joined by Harry Smith , whose wife Anna is a nurse on the neonatal intensive care unit.

'I am a proud grandma to a lovely eight-year-old granddaughter who was born fit and healthy at the N&N,' she explained.

'However I know many people whose babies have spent time in the unit and the care they have received from the staff was superb.'

Helen added she was lucky enough to be working at the hospital undergoing a �15m rebuild thanks to legacies.

'Not every unit within NNUHT has been so fortunate in receiving such financial support therefore I am happy to run for such a worthwhile cause,' she added, and hopes to raise �300 from her run.

Helen, from Marham, clocks 4hr 30min on average for her marathons, did the London in 4hr 10min this year, and her farthest flung event was at the Great Wall of China.

'Dublin may take a bit longer because I have never been there and I want to have a look around,' she said.

NICU nurse manager Amanda Williamson said: "We're very grateful to the runners.

'Every donation, no matter its size, will make a real difference to us and the babies we look after."

The appeal aims to add four more cots to the unit which deals with 850 babies a year.

Helen can be sponsored via www.justgiving.com/HELEN-LLOYD4. Other Cots for Tots runners can be sponsored via www.justgiving.com/norwichnicu

? Cromer supermarket owner Jinx Hundal is also doing the Dublin event, having already completed the first leg of his double marathon charity challenge, finishing Amsterdam's annual 26-mile run in four hours and 59 minutes.

Mr Hundal, who owns Budgens in High Street, was inspired to set himself the challenge of completing two marathons by the courage shown by management team member Shirley Lodge, who died of cancer in August.

He is supporting Cancer Research UK and Norfolk cancer charity Big C.

Donations to Jinx's double marathon challenge can be handed in at Budgens Cromer, or made online at www.justgiving.com/Shirley-Lodge