A BRAVE marathon runner has revealed how she broke her leg with ten miles to go and carried on regardless.

Claire Kulisa took part in the Greater Manchester Marathon earlier this month, in a bid to raise funds for a sensory den at the primary school of her autistic daughter.

But around the 16th mile marker of the Manchester race, Mrs Kulisa said she felt a sharp pain in her leg before her foot gave way.

Determined to reach the finish line, she ploughed on and completed the full 26.2 miles.

But once the adrenaline wore off she found herself in hospital the next day, when the full extent of her injury became clear.

She said: “I initially thought that maybe I’d sprained my ankle but the pain was like a burning sensation up my leg, and it felt like something tight was squeezing it.

“I felt like I had to finish the full marathon though and didn’t think about it.

“The day after I went to the hospital and then they told me I had broken my leg.”

Donations poured in for the efforts of the 39-year-old, who said she was keen to tackle a greater challenge having completed numerous half marathons with her running club in Caerphilly county borough, and has now exceeded £1,500.

The money will go to Machen Primary School, where her daughter, Lilly, is a pupil.

Mrs Kulisa said: “She receives a lot of inside support.

“There are a lot of people at the school who have autism or who have additional needs. I wanted to do something to make a difference and help in some way.

“The school is small and it hasn’t got much space but we thought about making the sensory den for the children so it would help with calming them down and being a space for relaxation.”

And of the money donated she said: “I can’t believe how much has been raised. A Newport company (Asset International) has said they will give us the den so we can use the money on furnishing it and decorating it for the children now.”

Mrs Kulisa’s fundraising page is still open.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/clairekulisa