NHS Worker to Tackle First Great North Run After Completing Couch to 5K Training
Key Highlights :
Jenny Dell, a health care assistant from Hurworth Place, near Darlington, is set to take on her first Great North Run after successfully completing a Couch to 5k training programme with the support of North-East charity, the North East Autism Society (NEAS).
Jenny, who is autistic, responded to a call from NEAS to get fit for 2023 by going from ‘Couch to 5k’ in just over 8 weeks, despite suffering from Covid part-way through. Earlier in the year, Jenny signed up to follow the NEAS training plan, with the possibility of going on to take part in the Great North Run. She hit her 5k target just in time for World Autism Month in April, and has decided to carry on training to run the world’s most famous half-marathon, on September 10, and raise money for the charity.
A delighted Jenny said: “It wasn’t easy, but I did it gradually and finally ran a full 5k in 30 minutes, without walking once. It felt really good to finish the training app, and now I’m on to the 5-10k app.” She also took part in the Darlington South Park parkrun as part of her training, and is determined to keep running.
The charity has asked each runner to raise £400 in sponsorship - a tenner for each year that NEAS has been supporting autistic people across the North East. Jenny will be joining more than 57,000 runners in Newcastle to run the 13.1 mile iconic route that finishes along the sea front in South Shields.
“I’m much fitter now and have lost loads of weight, so I’m quietly confident that I can complete the Great North Run. Any money I raise will help toward making life better for people with autism, and raising autism awareness,” she said.
Jenny hopes that her story will inspire others to get their running shoes on and join her in raising money for the charity. “I’ve had lots of support from NEAS and I feel very positive,” she said.
If you would like to support Jenny’s fundraising for the North East Autism Society, please CLICK HERE. For more information, plus links to sign up, go to: www.neas.org.uk/event/couchtosouthshields.
