A WIRRAL nurse who battled to save her father's life after a heart attack has recalled how his memory kept her going as she took part in the New York Marathon.

Jeni Bowden, an advanced nurse practitioner at Arrowe Park Hospital, completed the marathon in memory of dad Phil in New York where they spent their last ever family holiday.

The 32, from Upton, was raising funds for the British Heart Foundation after dad Phil died in March last year, aged 63, following a sudden heart attack at the family home.

Jeni, who works at Arrowe Park Hospital never thought she would ever need her nursing skills at home until she fought to save his life by giving Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

After completing the marathon, she said: "It was very emotional. I named each mile after my family members.

"My final two miles were in memory of my dad.

"It was surreal. When I got to Central Park I sped up knowing those last two miles were for my dad."

Her t-shirt had her father Phil’s name on the back, to keep him with her every step of the way.

Originally she planned to raise £500 but following overwhelming support from her colleagues and the public Jeni raised £3,000 for the charity.

Dad Phil had been keen on his favourite hobby, which was microlighting and at his funeral the vicar urged loved ones to start a hobby in his honour, resulting in Jeni taking up running for the first time ever.

Jeni said: "As I was running I was thinking I was proud to do it for him considering that I only started running last year.

"I've had other people come up to me to say they’ve now started running to raise funds so it’s inspired them."

Her friends Nikki Lewis, who is a Staff Nurse at Arrowe Park Hospital, Julie Dillon, who is a Clinical Support Worker at the hospital and Suzanne Woods, a District Nurse in Wirral, were Jeni's personal cheering squad and they travelled over to lend their support in their British Heart Foundation t-shirts.

Jeni said: "I saw them in the last 800 metres and I suddenly just heard them ringing cow bells.

The support has been fantastic from people in work, my friends and family.

"I would like to say a big thank you to people who have supported me and I can't believe I've raised so much.

People can still sponsor Jeni by visiting her Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jennifer-Bowden1