LESS than one year after taking up running, Natalie Highett will tackle the longest race of her life tomorrow.

The 33-year-old of Grosvenor Road will tackle the 13.1 miles of Swindon Half Marathon after shedding more than a stone in weight since she took up the hobby to get fit.

Natalie decided to get serious when she heard about the Brighter Futures radiotherapy appeal, and as an assistant practitioner in Great Western Hospital’s cardiology department, she knows its importance.

“People are having to travel to Oxford when they’re desperately poorly. It’s been such a long time. This should have been brought to Swindon years ago,” she said.

“Most people in Swindon will be using it themselves at some point, either personally or through family and friends.

“As soon as I said who I was raising money for, people started donating straight away. It means a lot to a lot of people.”

Around £250 is expected to be donated if Natalie can get around the hills of the run, though she won’t have seven-year-old son Jimmy at her heels, who has been training with his mum when he can.

He and dad Jonathan, 40, and sister Amy, five, will all be cheering on mummy tomorrow (SUN), when she will have one simple aim at the finish.

“I just want to complete it and still be alive at the end and preferably not be sick. I don’t want to vomit in front of people,” she said.

To donate, visit: justgiving.com/natalie-highett

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