Helen Heath's Great North Run for her Mum

This year, Willow Burn has a team of 30 runners taking on the Great North Run. Here, Helen Heath tells us why taking part in this iconic challenge is so special to her.

1. Why have you chosen to support Willow Burn Hospice? In 2019 my family lost our lovely mum, Eileen Turner to a brain tumour.

   Our world turned upside down when mum was diagnosed as having an inoperable brain tumour in 2017. It was an incredibly difficult and frightening time for us all. We were taken out of our happy, comfortable family bubble and thrown head first into the unknown – hushed conversations, worrying scans, medical terminology that we didn’t understand, operations, medication, tests and the trauma of seeing someone we all loved so much going through the very toughest of times.

   Once mum was taken out of hospital care and transferred into Willow Burn Hospice the relief to see her in such a caring and tranquil place was indescribable. The staff at Willow Burn were amazing – they didn’t just look after mum, they looked after our whole family. Kind words, cups of tea, sneaked in Chinese takeaways, friendly faces, asking about the photos of mum we brought in so that they could get to know the person she was before she fell ill. They were truly wonderful with us all and we will never forget the care they gave mum right to the very end.

   Every time I drive through Lanchester I look for the windows of Willow Burn and feel incredibly thankful that they gave mum peace and calm and a quiet place to be with us all at the end.

   Things Helen misses about her mum, as illustrated by Helen.

2. How do you feel about the upcoming Great North Run? Pretty scared but secretly excited too! I have never been the sporty one in my family and I used to dread cross country running at school. However, I always remember my mum taking part in the GNR once when I was young to raise money for the intensive care baby unit where she worked as a midwife. I was so proud of her as she would be the first to say she was definitely not a natural runner either but she was willing to push herself out of her comfort zone for a cause that was close to her heart. I like to think she will be cheering me on that I am trying to do the same for Willow Burn.

3. What do you think will be the toughest part of the challenge? All of it! No seriously, keeping going when my feet hurt, my head starts questionning if I can actually go the distance and I hit that metaphorical wall. My running buddy Lucy may have to keep humming the Rocky theme tune to me if I start flagging! I also know we'll have our little support squads on hand to cheer us on. Both my boys, Bertie and Ned, are going to run the Mini Great North Run the day before too so I've made a pact with them that if they can do their bit I'll do mine!

4. What encouragement would you give to other people thinking of doing a challenge for Willow Burn? I imagine that many people who have had any experience of a loved one being at Willow Burn would feel that same way I do - that they want to give something back to the place and team that provide care and empathy to such a high standard. They are a small hospice with a huge heart at the centre of everything that they do and I am very proud to be fundraising for them.

Good Luck Helen, Bertie and Ned. Thank you for sharing your Great North Run story - Team Willow Burn are behind you every step of the way.