Naomi James from Newcastle upon Tyne is taking part in this year’s BUPA Great North Run in aid of Epilepsy Action, the UK’s largest member-led epilepsy organisation.
The race, which is the world’s biggest half marathon, will take place on Sunday 30 September starting in Newcastle and finishing 13.1 miles later in South Shields.
Naomi, who was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy a few years ago, says: “Running boosts my morale and I’ve done the run before. This time, as there are currently no Epilepsy Specialist Nurses in our area, I want to try and raise more awareness of the varying symptoms of the condition and work towards getting a specialist nurse.”
Joking that the thing she’s looking forward to the most is seeing the finishing line, Naomi adds: “I always get an adrenaline buzz once I’ve gone past the five mile mark! I’m more confident now that I’ve taken control of my epilepsy, and I’m looking forward to feeling a real sense of achievement once I complete the run. I’m aiming to raise around £500.”
The money raised by Naomi will help fund vital advice and information services provided by Epilepsy Action, which directly helps more than 660,000 people every year. You can still sponsor Naomi at www.justgiving.com/naomi_James. The charity has a network of branches across the UK and an award-winning website, www.epilepsy.org.uk.