INSPIRATIONAL fundraiser Gillian Clason has smashed her £40,000 target for the Children with Cancer charity.

Miss Clason, of Darlington, started fundraising in memory of her friend’s son Henry Valks who was three-years-old when he died of leukaemia in 2009.

Since then, 33-year-old Miss Clason has taken part in several marathons and sponsored bike rides in aid of the Children with Cancer charity.

She recently organised a successful Christmas Ball at the Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel which raised £4,100 on the night, bringing her fundraising total for 2013 up to £20,650.

This means that Miss Clason has raised £43,300 for Children with Cancer over the last four years.

She said: “At the beginning of the year my overall target was £30,000 but a few months ago I realised I was quite close to achieving that.

“So I changed it to £40,000 and I’m delighted to have beaten even that.”

Reaching the landmark amount has not diminished Miss Clason’s desire to continue raising money for the charity.

She has already signed up for four events next year – the Berlin and London marathons, the Great North Run and the Ride 100 bike ride in London – as well as committing herself to holding another Christmas Ball in 2014.