Marathon runner's death prompts £300,000 donations

Donations have been flooding in for Claire Squires fund-raising page after she collapsed and died in the final mile of the London Marathon

The marathon runner who collapsed with the finish line in sight was fund-raising in memory of her brother who died of an overdose.

Claire Squires, 30, asked friends to 'dig deep and donate now' as she campaigned to raise money for the Samaritans.

The runner from North Kilworth, Leicestershire wrote: 'If everyone I know could donate £5 that would be a great help and change lives.'

Since her death on Sunday afternoon, thousands of people have visited her Just Giving page to donate to her cause with offerings ranging from £2 to £250.

The hairdresser was well known in her home town for fund raising. She ran the marathon in 2010 and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last year to raise money for the RAF.

'Claire is an inspiration to us all,' says her close friend Nicola Short. 'She brought laughter and love to everyone's life. She will be sorely missed by all.'

'Claire chose to run the marathon for Samaritans as her mother Cilla Squires has been a volunteer for the charity for 24 years,' says chief executive, Catherine Johnstone.

'This is an incredibly sad time for Claire's family and all those who knew her.' Miss Squire's death is the 10th since the London Marathon began in 1981.

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