Julie Desborough and teenage son Lennox, from Mere View, Yaxley, have been training hard as they prepare to pound the streets for the BUPA Great North Run, on October 5.

After dusting off her trainers, Julie thought it was time to get fit once again after her last major event, which was the the Great Eastern Run in Peterborough, in the '80s.

Julie managed to rope her 16-year-old son, who will start his A-Levels at Stanground College in September, into taking part with her, and training is well under way.

Julie said: "The last time I did any running was in 2001 when I ran the Race for Life, so it has been really tough for me. I am not a young spring chicken any more.

"Where as Lennox, who plays football and other sports all the time, is flying along, I am sure it won't be a problem for him.

"I have always wanted to run the London Marathon and who knows, after this it might be next."

The pair have decided to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, as they both have friends who suffer from the disease.

Julie, who works in the Ikea call centre, off the Fletton Parkway, in Peterborough, said: "I worked at Peterborough District Hospital as a Healthcare Assistant and then at Yaxley Group Practice so I have seen so many people being diagnosed, living and coping with the condition.

"It is a terrible and nasty condition, and I just thought that there will be a cure on the horizon one day and I would like to be a part of making that happen."

The pair are already well on their way to reaching their £500 target but would like to go on to raise much more.

To sponsor the duo, e-mail Julie at sisterbliss1961@talktalk.com.

The BUPA Great North Run is one of the world's most popular half marathon road running events.

The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster who was inspired after running in the Round the Bays Race in New Zealand in 1979.

The event sees participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England.

The first ever Great North Run was staged on June 28, 1981, when 12,000 runners took part.

By 2003, the number of participants had risen to 47,000.

External link:
BUPA Great North Run - www.greatrun.org.