A BRITISH Marathon champion and Olympic athlete is swapping Wearside for the Quayside to cheer on two young relatives she inspired to take up running.

Sunderland runner Aly Dixon was the first British woman to cross this year's London Marathon finish line and after returning from the Rio Olympics, will head to the North-East next month to support her cousin and nephew at the Junior and Mini Great North Run on September 10.

The athlete, who finished 28th in the women’s marathon in Rio, will be rooting for nephew Charlie Hutchinson, seven, and 13-year-old cousin Caitlyn Jones in a relative role reversal after receiving so much support herself from her family.

Caitlyn, from Darlington, hopes to carve out a career in sport and was inspired to take up running by Ms Dixon’s achievements.

She began running with Ms Dixon, who persuaded her to sign up for the children’s running event.

The youngster will run the four kilometre course to raise funds for Bloodwise, a charity fighting blood cancers.

Janice Taylor, Caitlin’s mum, said: “Caitlyn has been inspired by Aly’s ‘never give up’ attitude.”

She added, “Caitlyn knows from always having been around Aly that anything is possible if you work hard enough.”

As well as supporting Caitlyn, Ms Dixon will get the chance to stretch her own legs as she runs a kilometre alongside nephew Charlie from Sunderland as an accompanying adult in the Mini event.

Speaking about Ms Dixon, Mrs Taylor said, “She is always the first to know when Caitlyn and Charlie have completed a sporting event, because she always lets them know she's proud and makes them feel special.

“This is the sort of encouragement that will keep them going in the future.”