A COUPLE from Warton toasted their 70th birthdays by raising money for the Epilepsy Society in the Great North Run 2019.

Jeff and Susan Street, who are both veterans of the Newcastle event, ran with family and friends including their daughter Rachel Perowne, the Epilepsy Society's director of medical and people services, and her husband Roger, who live in Amersham.

So far the team has raised £1,322. Mrs Perowne, who ran a personal best of one hour 44 minutes, said: "It was a very special race for my parents because it was their 15th Great North Run and their birthdays.

"We didn’t run altogether as we had quite different paces; it was lovely to meet at the finish line and compare our experiences.”

Mrs Perowne has worked for the Buckinghamshire-based charity for three years. She said its "amazing work" includes ground-breaking medical research and its helpline which supports thousands of people, many of whom are trying to come to terms with being diagnosed with epilepsy.

"The day itself was amazing," she said of September's Great North Run, "sunny weather, incredible numbers of runners and support along the entire route with people spraying you with their hosepipes to keep you cool. But it was really hard work too and I had the blisters to show for it."

She said she hopes to complete the Great North Run again next year with her family but would like to take a more relaxed approach so she can enjoy the atmosphere.

To donate, see justgiving.com/fundraising/rachelandrogerrun

For more on the charity, see www.epilepsysociety.org.uk or call the confidential helpline on 01494-601400 Mondays and Tuesdays 9am-4pm, and Wednesdays 9am-7.30pm.