THE sister of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence will take part in a sponsored run to raise money for the Missing People charity.

Ali Sims is running the Miles For Missing People 10km race in London next month to help raise money for the charity which helps support the families of thousands of missing people around the country.

Ali, who now lives in the Peak District, will take part in the race with Claudia's friend Jen King, following the fifth anniversary of Claudia's disappearance.

She said: "Last year I ran the Derby 10k and raised nearly £1,000 for Missing People.

"Before then, I hadn't run since school, when I tripped over while doing a leg of the relay. Claudia was watching and absolutely laughed her head off. She never let me live that down and I know she'd find it hilarious that I’m trying to run again now."

Claudia never arrived for her shift at the University of York on the morning of March 19, 2009. Police carried out extensive investigations into the whereabouts of the then-35-year-old, and last year started a review of the case.

Last month, North Yorkshire Police's Major Crimes Unit released a number of new leads to the public on the fifth anniversary of Claudia's disappearance, and Ali said she still lived in fear of receiving bad news.

She said: "We’ve been told the recent Crimewatch appeal led to 28 leads or phone calls. I'm pleased that the police haven't forgotten Claudia and are still working on her case, but at the same time I dread what they might find.

"I know whoever is involved in this isn't going to hand themselves in, but someone must know something. Someone must have noticed something suspicious or maybe a change in the behaviour of someone around the time Claudia went missing. We've been through utter hell for five years now and if there is someone who knows something, please, just tell the police."

Ali, who is married with two sons, said she had not been able to visit Claudia's Heworth home since her disappearance, but had been given some of Claudia's belongings.

She said: "Mum gave me a box of her things to look after, but I haven't dared open it because I know I'll get upset. The box is still in our garage untouched. I think it's my way of coping to shut things out. I have to stay strong for my boys."

To donate or sponsor Ali's run, go to justgiving.com/Ali-Sims

The police website with details of all current public appeals relating to Claudia is northyorkshirepolice/claudialawrence