Northampton's Hayley set to tackle the Great North Run for Diabetes charity

Aunt and mum-of-three Hayley James is running because she was wants to raise awareness and money for research.

As well as her niece being recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, her father lives with Type 2 diabetes.

The run, set for 11 September 2016, sees hundreds of Team Diabetes UK runners take to the streets to run the largest half marathon in the world.

Hayley,40, who has been training hard for the event said: “I have never been a runner, but 18 years ago I dragged myself round the London Marathon, I was supposed to do the Great North Run that year too, but pulled out and didn’t run again until about 18 months ago.

“I started to run around the block for fitness and built it up to park runs.

“When the ballot opened I entered and got a place, then in May this year my beautiful, funny, bright 10-year-old niece was unwell and went to the doctors. “Within an hour she had been sent straight to hospital where she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Hayley added: “ On the shock of niece Evie being diagnosed I decided to run for Diabetes UK.

“I want to help as it is a life-changing diagnosis and it alters the way you have to think of everything from what you eat to having to plan days out.

“I know it’s early days, but it has taken away the carefree attitude to life my niece had.

“So for me this is hopefully a very small way to help enable more research.”

The Great North Run course sees over 50,000 runners take on the course between Newcastle and South Shields with over a million people have run the route in its 35-year history.

Rachel Mann-Bradbury, Diabetes UK East Midlands Fundraiser, said: “We’re really grateful to Hayley for joining Team Diabetes UK to help raise vital funds to help people living with diabetes and every penny raised will help us to support people living with diabetes in the UK.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Hayley should visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hayleyjames40