Accrington Road Runners are mourning the loss of Maureen Hartley who died of cancer on Saturday evening.

She would have celebrated her 54th birthday yesterday.

Maureen had been a runner since 1985 and was a long time member of the club.

Her son, Brent Hoggan, is one of their leading athletes, while club stalwart Harry Haseley was her second cousin.

She was one of the club’s most active members and earlier this year even won a ten-pin bowling competition at a club social.

Although she was a frequent racer, Maureen will probably be best remembered in athletic circles for her performances in the London Marathon which she completed six times in eight years between 2000 and 2007.

At her best she clocked around three and three quarter hours which earned her an automatic spot in the race as a “Good for Age” athlete.

Back in civilian life she was a Care in the Community Manager at Primecare in Burnley, while she raised money for a variety of good causes in her marathons including Breast Cancer Care, East Lancashire Hospice, Brian’s House Hospice for Terminally Ill Children, Help the Aged, Victim Support, and SMILE (Specialist Mediation in Lancashire East).

Maureen had been accepted to run in next year’s London Marathon, but decided to aim instead for 2010 after her illness struck.

She lived in Accrington with her husband Sherman, and leaves three grown up children Brent, Debbie and Thomas, and four grand children.

Maureen’s funeral will be held on Monday at 12.20pm at Accrington Crematorium.

Pink ribbons in support of breast cancer sufferers will be distributed to the mourners on arrival.

There will be Family Flowers, while others are invited to make a donation to the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) in Maureen’s memory, c/o Kirby and Hughes Funeral Directors, Blackburn Road, Accrington.

Friends wanting more details about the arrangements would be welcome to call Sherman Hartley on 01254 398987.