HEARING some of the heart-breaking stories day-in, day-out in her role as Brighter Futures’ supporter care fundraiser has prompted Lisa Utting to go the extra mile and take part in a half marathon next month.

On Sunday, March 12, Lisa will pull on her running shoes to take part in the 13.1-mile route around the West’s hilly city all in aid of the Brighter Futures appeal, marking her fourth half marathon attempt.

Having previously completed the Swindon Half Marathon as well as routes in Reading and Milton Keynes, she said she was eager to complete the Bath event, although admitted that she had let her training schedule slide over the festive period.

“I have been training since January, gradually upping my mileage,” she said.

“I began by running three or four miles and not going over that but have very quickly had to up the mileage, so I am currently at around 9.2 miles and I am looking to get another training session in over the weekend.

“I applied for the place in the Bath Half at the end of last year, but then you get into the Christmas spirit, and it’s all cold and dark outside and before you know it you’re in the New Year and you only have a month to go and you realise you had better get a move on!”

She is running twice a week with Shin Splints, who train on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

“I have got some brilliant running friends that definitely help me out, and When the going gets tough and you want to give up, they keep you going,” she said.

But perhaps her biggest inspiration is the tales she hears from fellow fundraisers. She said: “Working in the fundraising office I get to speak to a lot of people who are carrying out various fundraising activities, and some of their stories really touch my heart.

“We recently had one lady come in whose husband had decided not to go for treatment in Oxford for his cancer, because from where they lived in Wiltshire it was more than a 100-mile round trip. That absolutely broke my heart.

“It’s stories like that where you know that radiotherapy could go some way to helping them and ensuring that every last bit of cancer has been caught, but they are not getting the treatment they need.

“Just getting the radiotherapy centre open here in Swindon will help so many people.”

Lisa is fundraising through The Good Exchange, which will match fund every penny that she raises. To support her efforts and the radiotherapy appeal visit bit.ly/2lbWlSz

So far £1,375,788 has been raised for Brighter Futures. The team is very grateful for every single donation and wishes to thank everyone for their support.

To donate you can cut out and send in the form printed in the Advertiser every Thursday or visit www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk