Newly appointed Business Development Co-ordinator Lynda Reid has put on her running shoes and tackled the Great North Run in support of a charity close to her heart.
Lynda, from Seaton Carew, who joined the team in August, ran the 13.2-mile half marathon in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust because her niece suffers from the condition.
Lynda said: “Last year I couldn’t even run half a mile, so this is a big challenge. My niece Leanne, who’s 33, suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and she’s amazing. She’s a warrior, nothing fazes her, and she’s even climbed Kilimanjaro so is an absolute inspiration to me.
“I wanted to do something to make her proud of me for a change. I joined a little running club for beginners called ‘Yes You Can’ running club in Hartlepool and they’ve been so motivational, and they’ve helped me believe in myself again.
“I was so giddy before the half marathon. I knew it was going to be difficult and I knew it would painful, but I loved it.”
So far Lynda has raised £1,250 for Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK and £950 for the CF Isle of Man branch where Lynda and Leanne are both from. She has also lost over 2.5 stone during the training.
Lynda said: “I’ve now raised over £2,000 so I knew I was not going to give up until I completed the race! It was gruelling and tough, but the crowds were unbelievable and kept me going. I threw up at the end and needed lie down but it was totally worth it.”
Directors at Denon Construction have also pledged their support to Lynda and have donated £200 to help her exceed her original target of 1,000.
Joanne Sheader, Finance Director of Denon, said: “Lynda has overcome incredible challenges in her training. At the start she struggled running short distances but the effort she has put in is incredible and we’re all very proud of her.
“To run such a distance in the heat is amazing the cause she was fund-raising for was very personal to her. It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to contribute towards such a tremendous goal.
“As Lynda has shown us, people living with Cystic Fibrosis are required to take such an amount of medication in order to help them live a normal life, that foundations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Trust need all of the assistance they can get and I’m happy we had the opportunity to support Lynda and her family.”
If you’re interested in ways you can get involved in supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in the UK, click here: https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk