Nurse Kelly takes on the Great North Run in her nursing outfit!

Running the half marathon in her heavy navy outfit should not be a burden for Kelly who got into shape after losing eight stone.

The turning point for Kelly, from Romiley, came five years ago when she advised a patient at the hospital where she was a nurse that she might want to lose weight.

It persuaded Kelly to change to a much healthier lifestyle, dropping her dress size from 24 to a trim 12 in the process.

Kelly said: “It felt embarrassing to tell someone to lose weight when I was that big. I was so glad I changed my own lifestyle.”

Kelly fulfilled a dream when she joined St Ann’s in January. “I was a student nurse here in 2004 and loved it. It’s an amazing place and I feel proud to be back as a sister.

“St Ann’s needs to raise two thirds of its income from donations so I want to make my own contribution and raise awareness of the need for support. Every day we do make a difference and although it’s a cliche, fundraising helps us care for people when they need it most.”

Kelly and husband Marc have already raised £5,500 for charity from various runs, mostly to support treatment of multiple sclerosis, a condition which affects her sister Donna Bentley, from Romiley.

Kelly, a member of Davenport Runners, added: “My fundraising from now on is for St Ann’s because we look after patients with all life-limiting illnesses, including MS and cancer.”

To sponsor Kelly go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kelly-foster17.