A QUARRY Bank tennis player is swapping her racket for running shoes this weekend to take on the London Marathon.

Stacey Billingham, who runs the Prosser Tennis Academy at Quarry Bank Tennis Club with her sister Nikki Parkes, will be among thousands of charity runners taking part in this Sunday’s event which she is running for Get Kids Going.

It’ll be the first marathon attempt for 29-year-old Stacey, who is head of PE at Summerhill School in Kingswinford, although she has already completed several half marathons.

She said: “I have watched the London Marathon every year and wondered if one day I would get the opportunity to actually run in it.

“As an individual who loves challenges, especially those within sport, I am overwhelmed to have been accepted to run for Get Kids Going.”

Stacey, from Brierley Hill, has already raised more than £2,000 for the national charity - which supports young disabled athletes to achieve their sporting dreams by issuing grants to help with training, physiotherapy, travel, competition fees, design and equipment - £500 of which was raised through cardio fitness sessions at Quarry Bank Tennis Club.

Anyone wishing to boost Stacey’s sponsorship further can make a donation online at https://www.justgiving.com/Stacey-Billingham