A Royal Navy Petty Officer will take on the Great North Run less than a year after starting her running journey.
Sandra Cross, 39, began running in November 2025 after starting the Couch to 5K programme to improve her fitness.
Now, less than a year later, she is preparing to take on the 13.1-mile Great North Run to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
Ms Cross said: "I only started running last November because I wanted to get fit, so I decided to give Couch to 5K a go.
"I really enjoyed it and found that running came quite naturally to me, so I thought I’d give myself a much bigger challenge and enter a half marathon."
A spokesman for SSAFA added: "We are incredibly grateful to Sandra for choosing to support SSAFA.
"To go from starting Couch to 5K last November to taking on one of the country’s best-known half marathons less than a year later is a fantastic achievement."
Ms Cross will join thousands of runners on the route from Newcastle to South Shields.
SSAFA has supported serving personnel, veterans, and military families for more than 140 years.
Donations can be made at https://AJBellgreatnorthrun2026.enthuse.com/pf/sandra-cross.
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