A BRITISH ARMY officer from Marlborough is preparing to receive an MBE this weekend as well as taking on the London Marathon two days later.

Major Lucy Anderson, 39, of George Lane, Marlborough, will be travelling to Buckingham Palace tomorrow to receive her MBE for her work while serving in Afghanistan.

“I was completely surprised to be on the New Year’s Honours List. It was very unexpected, just a real honour indeed. It’s a testament to myself and the 150 soldiers that work for me. I served in Afghanistan and was responsible for packing up Camp Bastion, saving a quarter of a million pounds,” said Maj Anderson.

Just two days after receiving her MBE, Maj Anderson will also be tackling the London Marathon with three others, raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund.

“About 16 years ago one of my friends was in hospital after being involved in a traffic accident and she was watching the marathon on the TV. She said that she wanted to run it the following year and I said I would run with her. By the next time it came round I was already in the army, so here I am, 16 years later, finally getting round to doing it,” added Maj Anderson.

So far Maj Anderson has raised £900, with her team’s target set at £1,800. Being her first marathon, Maj Anderson has said she thinks it will be the only one.

“I am running for a very worthy cause. This will be my first and hopefully my last marathon. To fit in all the training is difficult with everything else going on. I am glad to be going to the palace first instead of having to run the marathon and receiving my MBE afterwards. But it is something to cross off the bucket list,” she added.

To donate to Maj Anderson’s fundraising efforts, her just giving page can be found at www.justgiving.com/teams/hq-a.