A DENTIST is planning to light up London this weekend, not with her beautiful smile, but with bright clothes, lights and glow sticks.

Martina Fell, who works at College Road Dental Practice, will be taking part in the Shine Marathon Night Walk, Cancer Research UK's night-time walking marathon.

People from all over the UK will join together for an incredible night in London to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Ms Fell will trek 26.2 miles in memory of a friend who tragically passed away from a rare form of cancer in 2012.

She said: "In 2012 my life was turned upside down by cancer. I realised how truly devastating and destructive it can be. How it can take a young and healthy person and take their life within three months of diagnosis."

Money raised from the walking marathon will go toward research into more than 200 types of cancer and support ground-breaking science that has helped transform the way cancer is prevented, diagnosed and treated.

Ms Fell said: "Thankfully, there have been many success stories I've heard and witnessed. But for every success story there is a life lost."

"It amazes me how many people in my life and my friend's lives have been affected by cancer."

She added: "I thank God that I am healthy and want to do something to help in the fight against cancer. But anyone who knows me well will know I'm far from being an athlete so this is going to be a true challenge for me.

"I know it's only walking, but it's a very long walk."

To donate money to Martina, visit justgiving.com/martinafell.

For more information about the Shine Marathon Night Walk, visit shine.cancerresearchuk.org.

The College Road Dental Practice, on College Road, will be holding a Macmillan coffee morning in the practice this Friday,  from 8am to 11am.

It is part of Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning fundraising event.