A woman from Bexley has thanked her “amazing” family for helping her cross the finish line of the London Marathon.

Kay Scarley, 61 and a loyal News Shopper employee for 24 years, took on the gruelling 26.2 miles on Sunday in memory of her father, who died of Alzheimer’s last year, just before his 90th birthday.

While grieving for her father, Kay and her siblings also had to look after their mother, Joyce, who has advanced vascular dementia.

After coping with her parents’ illnesses, Kay decided to run for Alzheimer’s Society, which offered her family support during her father’s battle.

So far, her Justgiving page is at £2,257, exceeding her £2,000 goal. However, Kay thinks her final total will be £2,500 when she adds on cash donations.

“It’s a charity so close to my heart. My family have been coping with it for quite a few years,” Kay told News Shopper.

Originally, Kay applied to run the race in 2017, but deferred her position because of her father’s death.

This year, after suffering a few injuries during her training, Kay considered pulling out of the race altogether.

But determination to succeed and family support kept her going, and she completed the race in six and a half hours.

“It was harder than I thought it would be. The heat was awful.

“I experienced pain where I wasn’t expecting to feel it.”

Despite the tough conditions in the hottest London Marathon on record, Kay made it across the finish line with the support of spectators and her family.

“It’s true what they say about the London Marathon. The crowd is so uplifting. But it’s even better when you see your family.”

Family members “dashed from there to there to there” to cheer Kay on at different points in the race, which she believes kept her going when she struggled.

“At one point I thought ‘I’m never going to walk again’,” she said.

“But I have the most fantastic family. The way we stick together is a testament to Mum and Dad.”

Although Kay does not plan to run any more marathons in future, she is keen to join a running club and is keeping up the activity.

“Actually, I’m just about to pop out for a run now,” she told News Shopper.