Emma all set for first half-marathon

COMMITTED mum-of-two Emma Richards will lace up her running shoes for a half-marathon this weekend after losing three stone and reversing her diabetes in the process.
Emma RichardsEmma Richards
Emma Richards

Emma, of Bramley, will be among the runners at the North Lincolnshire Half Marathon on Sunday, just eight years after her weight spiralled to 16st.

Being prescribed her fourh type of medication for diabetes in October 2015 spurred Emma into action and she is now hoping to complete her first half-marathon in Scunthorpe on Sunday.

Emma (40), said: “I am very nervous to be honest. I went to the London Marathon with somebody who was doing it from my running club and the nerves were kicking in there and I wasn’t even running.

“The furthest I have run in training up to now is ten miles. I don’t want to run 13 miles until the day of the race so it’s more of an achievement.”

Maltby Running Club member Emma hopes to raise hundreds of pounds in memory of family friend teenager Tom Bothamley, who died of an undiagnosed heart condition at the age of 13 by taking part in the run.

Tom, also of Bramley, was a friend of her youngest son Mason (13) and Emma said she wanted to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young in his memory.

“Both my sons knew Tom so when I was deciding on a charity I thought about how Mason was affected by what happened to Tom,” Emma said.

“I just wanted to do something to help. Tom’s mum Keira, although she is grieving,has just thrown herself into the fundraising and the work she has done and the money she has raised is just amazing.

“It feels like I will be running for Keira, Tom and all of their family.”

Emma will also run the Manchester Half-Marathon in October.

She added: “I used to see people out running when I was on my way home and wonder why on earth were they doing it, but it has completely changed my life.

“It just shows that with hard work and determination you can achieve anything.”

For more information on Emma’s story or to sponsor her, visit www.gofundme.com/giving-back-to-local-people.

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