For many, one half marathon a year is enough, but 54-year-old Doreen Sams is settling for nothing less than completing 12 in as many months.

Her self-set running challenge is in an effort to raise money to help her local Oddfellows friendship group to raise money for a new lifeboat for RNLI Sheringham Lifeboat Station.

Now four races down, she said: 'I first began running when I was 31 to keep fit and balance out my demanding role as a prison officer, and still do. I took up competing in half marathons in 2000 and I've been hooked ever since. I run regular half marathons, but never to the frequency that I'm aiming to achieve with this challenge. I must be barmy.'

The Oddfellows East Anglia Group Conference has set out to raise £214,000 for a new Atlantic 85 boat for the Sheringham station.

A new lifeboat would replace the station's existing Atlantic 85 class boat, which is nearing the end of its operational life, after almost ten years on station and numerous lives saved.

The mum of three, from Buckingham, added: 'I wanted to play my part. The work that the charity's lifeboat, lifeguard and rescue crews do is extraordinary, especially considering most are volunteers.

'They rely heavily on donations to keep going and I'll be thinking about all the lives they have and will save in the future to push one foot in front of the other towards each finish line.'

Over the years, the Oddfellows has donated almost £600,000 to the RNLI for projects at Sheringham.

Sheringham operations manager Brian Farrow said: 'They are constantly working behind the scenes to support us and have championed us for more than 50 years.

'They bought our first lifeboat in 1962 and everyone one since then. This new one will be the fifth they have given us. Our current lifeboat probably has about six years left to run.'

If you would like to sponsor her and check her progress, make a cheque payable to 'Beds and Bucks District Oddfellows' marked 'Mum on the run' and post to Kevin Macan-Lind, 69 High Street, Broom, SG18 9NA.