A KIRKBYMOORSIDE woman is taking on a tough Croatian triathlon on behalf of the hospice which cared for her dad during his final weeks.

Gemma Horner is doing the half-Ironman event - a 1.2 mile sea swim, a 56 mile cycle then a 13.1 mile run - in Pula, a small coastal city in northern Croatia, on September 17.

The gruelling 70.3 mile race is in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice in York. Gemma’s father David Smith of Pickering, known as David Hodgson, was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in December 2014.

She said: “The St Leonard’s Hospice team helped enormously to make sure he was comfortable in his own home in his final weeks.

“The actual race day would’ve been my Dad’s 64th birthday too so this is why I’ve picked this particular race. I hope I can raise funds for the hospice to give others the best care possible.”

She said she has been in training in the Ampleforth swimming pool, cycling in the countryside round Castle Howard and running round Rosedale on the old railway line, as well as circuits and cardio sessions.

She added that she’s done a few small-scale triathlons but she had been hesitant about signing up to the race.

“There was another one happening at around the same time, but I thought this one would push me just a bit more. This is the big one.”

You can support Gemma’s cause at stleonardshospice.org.uk/help/fundraising/view-fundraising-pages/gemma-horner.