There are a number of reasons I am taking part in The Great North run and I can't wait to finally achieve them, it's been a very long journey. 

My story is to show people that despite bad & tragic things happening, having the right people round you can lead to positive and inspiring things. 

The last 18 months have been a bit of a roller coaster for me & the family. Losing my dad unexpectedly last year was one of the toughest experiences I have ever dealt with. I never thought in a million years things could get worse. 

Six weeks after dad I find out my husband was having an affair. My life was turned upside down for a while with moving house and getting used to the single life.  A month later I get the dreaded news I was being made redundant from a job I loved. Pretty rubbish timing just as I had filed for divorce. 

Xmas passed and in February this year I tragically lost my beautiful nephew, Aidan, at just 13 years old. Losing Aidan I feel changed everything, certainly for me it put my own problems into prospective. 

Despite all of our bad luck (well I actually think the husband part was a stroke of luck) i find myself amongst such an amazing family and one I couldn't be prouder of. The strength my mother showed after losing my dad amazed me, I admire her so much. 

What I've never personally experienced is turning something so so sad into something wonderful until my Brother, Sister in law & niece created their just giving page in Aidan's memory. At such a tragic time they turned their sadness round into something so positive, the goal became to save a child's life but now it's much more. 

Sheffield's Children's Hospital were amazing with Aidan and all of the family too, the staff are simple angels and we want to give back. 

I'm not athletic in the slightest but when we saw the date of the great north we knew we had to do it. It falls on my brothers birthday and what better way to celebrate is three siblings running together to raise money for Aidan. 

The main reasons I am running are to support the bravest man I know, my brother, to make my dad proud, to prove to myself I can do this and lastly the most important of all for Aidan James Bancroft. The cheeky monkey will be laughing his head off watching down on me, Daddy & Aunty Sarah trying to run. 

I hope my families positive and inspiring actions really help others in hard situations but most of all save lives. 

Much love 

Sally xxxxx💚💚💚💚💚 

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