A NURSE diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is taking part in her third London Marathon.

Melissa Smith, a staff nurse at Airedale Hospital, is raising funds for the MS Trust – which is dedicated to helping those with the condition.

She will be joined by her husband Tom, who is tackling the marathon for the first time, and friend Jay Barnes – who is also on his third.

Together, they hope to raise £6,000 through the event, on Sunday, April 22.

“I would love to complete the course in under five hours but to be honest the time isn’t important,” said Melissa, 29, from Glusburn.

“It’s a fantastic event with an incredible atmosphere and I just want to enjoy the experience and raise as much as possible for the MS Trust, which helped me a lot when I was diagnosed.”

People can donate online at justgiving.com/fundraising/melissa-smith28.

Since she was diagnosed, when she was just 25, Melissa has raised about £12,000 for the MS Trust.

In addition to her marathons, she last year took part in a skydive from 10,000ft to coin-in cash.

The MS Trust provides a range of free information and support and is involved in developing specialist services.

For more details, visit mstrust.org.uk.