Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am a clinical nurse specialist in the Rheumatology department at St. Luke’s Hospital, Bradford. I decided to get fit by running (never having even run for a bus before) and needed a good reason to get on and do it.

I signed up to do the Jane Tomlinson 10k run in Leeds in November and told everybody so that I couldn’t chicken out! I have chosen to run for the British Sjogrens Syndrome Association. This illness is not well known but is a debilitating, distressing and miserable auto immune condition affecting ½ million people in the UK. The BSSA provides a helpline, information and much needed research support for patients and health professionals like me.

I started training in the cold and dark days of the winter along the highways and byways of Apperley Bridge, between Leeds and Bradford, where I live. I try to run 2-3 times a week, but still try to use the excuses I perfected when avoiding games and PE at school 40 years ago.  I have now managed to do 7.8 miles (according to Google maps any way) in 1 hour and 50 minutes.

I am 54 and have been married to David, a Baptist minister, for 30 years. We have two daughters, Carol and Grace, who have flown the nest, but are kept on the straight and narrow by our dog, Jack, a vey bossy Westie. I tried taking him on my runs but he keeps stopping to sniff thing and make friends with other dogs so now I go on my own.

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So please dig deep and donate now.