City woman runs seven marathons on seven continents in seven days

In one week Marie-Louise Stenild, 36, who lives in Pimlico and is from Denmark, has completed marathons in the Falkland Islands (Antarctica), Santiago (South America), Los Angeles (North America), Sydney (Australasia), Singapore (Asia) and Cairo (Africa).

She arrived in London today for the final leg of her journey and was running her Europe marathon from Greenwich to The Mall. She aims to raise £10,000 for the Adam Rogers Trust, a charity which helps fund care for children with cancer and assists adults with learning difficulties. Miss Stenild was today joined by friends, family and colleagues, some of whom were running with her.

Miss Stenild, a compliance manager for bond management company Rogge, was inspired to run the route, known as the 7x7x7, after hearing adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes speak about it five years ago. She said: "For the past five years the desire to run seven marathons in seven days on seven different continents has been at the back of my mind.

All because I, on a rainy autumn day, went to hear Sir Ranulph Fiennes speak, and was completely taken aback by his achievements. The likelihood of me crossing the South Pole is probably rather slim, but one thing which occurred to was that I love running. It's been much easier than I expected. There have been high points during every run." The Adam Rogers Trust was set up by Fiona and Mark Rogers in memory of their 13-year-old son, who died from a brain tumour in 2006. Miss Stenild was touched by their story.

Mrs Rogers, 46, from Colchester, was due to greet Miss Stenild at the finish line with her husband and their three other sons Felix, Fergus and Mungo. She said: "I'm full of admiration for Marie-Louise, she's an incredible person. We've been following her progress all the way. Adam would have been thrilled."