Laura Bell to run the Great Manchester Run for the British Heart Foundation

Laura Bell and Joshua Simpson

Laura Bell from Rochdale will be taking part in this years Great Manchester Run to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

Laura, who recently took up running, will be taking part in the run in memory of her son’s Grandad who recently died due to heart disease. Laura also has a family member who suffers from heart disease so decided to do the run for them as well.

Laura’s partner, Stacey O’Connor said: “My dad has heart problems as well so she wanted to do the run as a double fundraiser for him and her son’s grandad. She just wants to raise as much money as possible really.”

This will be the first 10k run for Laura. Stacey said: “At first she wanted to push herself and then she decided to do it for the charity. She has never done anything like this before so it is a big thing for her to go from nothing to this.”

Training has already started for the run, which takes places in Manchester on Sunday 18 May.

Stacey added: “She is currently running around her local reservoir at the minute but she has signed up for a training programme with the run and is building up to long distance runs.”

As well as Laura’s fund raising efforts, other members of the family are also getting involved with the action. Laura’s five-year-old son Joshua Simpson and his cousin Ruby Simpson will be taking part in a 2k race the day before (Saturday 17 May) the Great Manchester Run.

Stacey is also hoping to raise some funds by baking healthy cookies: “I like baking so thought I would try some healthy cookies and not use things like butter because it is for the British Heart Foundation,” said Stacey.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Laura or her family can do so by visiting:

http://www.justgiving.com/beecharitable