( CNN ) -- Donations to the fundraising page of a young woman who died less than one mile ( 1.6km ) from the London Marathon finishing line , are heading towards the $ 1 million mark . As news of Claire Squires ' death spread across social media sites , so too did the link to her Just Giving fundraising page , sparking a flurry of donations reaching more than £400,000 ( $ 650,000 ) and rising fast by Tuesday afternoon . The hairdresser , from North Kilworth in Leicestershire , died near St James 's Park on the final stretch of the 26.2 mile ( 42km ) course on Sunday . The 30-year-old , who had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro just last month , collapsed as she ran up Birdcage Walk -- the final stretch covered by competitors before reaching Buckingham Palace and turning on to The Mall . Paramedics were unable to revive her and she died at the scene . The cause of death is not yet known . News of the tragedy quickly spread on Twitter and Facebook , helping prompt a flood of donations to her chosen charity , the Samaritans . The donations , which initially stood at £500 ( $ 800 ) , surged throughout Monday and Tuesday as publicity spread through social and conventional media sources . Almost 40,000 donations have been made on Squires ' fundraising page , with many people including heartfelt messages of sympathy to the tragic woman 's family . She had chosen to run for the Samaritans after her mother Cilla volunteered with the charity for 24 years . She had posted on her fundraising page : `` hi guys as you all know i am running the london marathon it was just going to be for fun . but its a fab opportunity to raise money for my charity the samaritans if everyone i know could donate £5.00 ( $ 8 ) that would be a great help and change lives . '' Catherine Johnstone , chief executive of the Samaritans , said the charity had been overwhelmed by the response . `` We desperately wish that it was not under these circumstances but we have been overwhelmed by the response from people donating in Claire 's memory , '' she said . `` These donations will be put into a tribute fund and , following discussions with the family , will go towards projects they feel would have been important to Claire . '' Devastated friends described Squires as a keen charity fundraiser who last month climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for the Royal Air Force Association . `` Claire was larger than life , fun-loving , bubbly , happy , cheerful , kind , giving , thoughtful . She was just the most amazing person in the world - the best friend I have ever had , '' friend Victoria Hauser told 5 News . `` She was a giver , all the time . It 's been never-ending . She 's done the Great North Run , she 's done a climb on Kilimanjaro , she 's done a marathon previously for the Children 's Society . '' Around 37,500 runners took part in the marathon and Squires ' death is the 10th since the race began in 1981 . She is the only woman to have died in the marathon . The most recent death was that of David Rogers , a 22-year-old fitness instructor , in 2007 .
Social media boosts donations to tragic London Marathon runner 's website . Claire Squires , a year - old hairdresser , died after collapsing one mile from the finish . Pledges to her chosen charity the day , initially $ 100 , soar as news spreads . She had recently climbed Mount Everest for charity .