A brother and sister who were injured together while skiing will run in this year’s London Marathon.

The pair hope to raise at least £4,000 for charity, Spinal Research UK, as a way of saying thank you for the effective medical care they received.

Pippa Leith, aged 23, said: "My brother Freddie, aged 21, and I are running this year’s London Marathon in support of Spinal Research UK.

“In 2013, three months into my first year at Vet School, Freddie and I were both injured whilst skiing in Switzerland.

"We were skiing rather too fast and took off over one with a very large drop, of approximately 30m.

"Freddie fell and broke his shoulder. I landed feet first but the impact caused the bottom of my lower three vertebra to effectively snap off and I was in agony.”

Miss Leith added: “Helicopters were called and we were transferred to hospital. I was taken to the specialist spinal trauma unit at Bern where I received excellent surgery. I now work as a Veterinary Surgeon in Ledbury with my father, Martin Leith. Freddie is now at Exeter University studying biology.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor the fund-raisers should go to: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/PippaandFreddie