Church Street resident Monica Fletcher had her pacemaker replaced on April 1 but she hasn't let her condition stop her from enjoying an active life.

In fact the 50-year-old, who suffers from a cardiac arrhythmia, will be taking part in the London Marathon on April 26 less than a month after having her operation.

She said: "It will be less than four weeks after surgery but I am fairly fit and healthy so it should be fine." Ms Fletcher is the chief executive of charity Education For Health, based in Church Street, and has lived in the town for six years.

She was first diagnosed with her condition in 1999 and added: "When I first had it I was apprehensive. I felt that only older people had pacemakers because of the stigma attached to it.

"I didn't know it was something that happened to younger people.

"I had been fairly fit and healthy before so it was quite a shock. There was a stigma attached to it and I thought it was something which only happened to older people."

Ms Fletcher has run three marathons since having the device fitted at the age of 40. She hopes her latest effort will raise more than £2,500 for Ettington charities Arrhythmia Alliance and STARS.

She said: "The money would be to raise awareness about the conditions and how important it is for GPs and nurses to check pulses and for people to be familiar with their own pulse rate.

"People who have these conditions can faint and can't drive as they never know if they might collapse. It means they can't lead a full life."

The former nurse believes many people with heart defects can live normal lives.

She added: "I live as healthy life as anyone else - maybe healthier as you often take more care of what you eat if you have a condition."

Anyone wanting to sponsor Ms Fletcher can visit:

www.justgiving.com/monicafletcher