TEACHER Helen Wright swapped the classroom for the streets of London on Sunday to take part in a world-famous 26-miler.

Helen teaches biology at Cransley School, and took on the London Marathon for mental health charity Mind.

It was a major challenge for Helen, who had not run more than four miles before she applied for a marathon spot.

She crossed the finishing line in five hours 31 minutes despite having a dodgy knee, and has raised £1,389 towards her target of £1,750.

Helen said: “This was my first and probably last London Marathon. In fact this was my first race - before October the furthest I had run was four miles.

“I entered the marathon bid in October to run for Mind but didn't find out I had a place until the end of January.

“I was reassured 12 weeks was plenty of time to train for a marathon, and I’m really pleased to have taken part in such an amazing event - the atmosphere was fantastic.

“My last ‘professional’ attempt at running was about the age of 10, when I was so far behind in the local village fun run St John's Ambulance took me back to the start because they were fed up of waiting!

“I have watched some of my nearest and dearest friends, family and many of the teenagers I have had the pleasure of teaching for the last six years fighting with mental health conditions.

“To watch someone fighting anxiety, panic attacks, depression, psychosis, eating disorders or OCD reminds you how difficult it is to deal with an illness we can’t ‘see’ the symptoms of.

“We make allowances for those with broken bones, but it seems people can't always rely on the same from their peers when it comes to mental health.

“One in four of us will suffer from some sort of mental health problem in the course of a year, and it would be much easier to grow up in a world where this is better appreciated.”

Helen has been at Cransley School since September, and to support her fundraising visit www.justgiving.com/HWright-Mind