Hannah praised by record-holder Paula Radcliffe

Determined Hannah Coney, 21, took part in the Delhi Half Marathon alongside 32,000 other runners. She finished in a blistering time of 2 hrs 6 min 14 sec, placing her fifth in her age group of 18 to 25.

After completing the race, which featured a host of elite global stars and top runners, Hannah had a chance to have her picture taken with Radcliffe, who was acting as an ambassador for the event.

Hannah said: “The opportunity to run in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon was too good to miss and made really special because I chose to raise funds for Sense India. Sense India, a sister agency of Sense UK, has an amazing programme working with deaf and blind people, mostly children, throughout India.”

Hannah’s love for running was sparked at school in Angmering.

During her psychology degree at Essex University, she ran two half-marathons, raising funds for St Barnabas House hospice.

Hannah is now completing a four-month stint in India with an international exchange group, working alongside disadvantaged children.

She is now urging Gazette readers to back her.

She said: “If anyone would like to support my fundraising for Sense India, please do contribute to my page on www.justgiving.com/HannahConey”