STUDENT Hannah Crosbie is planning to run her first-ever half-marathon – in memory of her grandfather.

The 20-year-old, from Potto, near Stokesley, will be pounding the streets in the Great North Run in Newcastle in September.

A business student at the University of York, she hopes to complete the course in under two hours while raising cash for the charity Marie Curie.

“Though I go to the gym and swim regularly, I’m certainly not an accomplished runner so this is going to be a huge challenge for me,” said Hannah.

“Taking part in this charity run has been at the top of my wish list for a little while and it seemed fitting to sign up so that I could help support Marie Curie. It’s going to be a hard slog but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Her grandfather Ronnie Sigsworth died at the beginning of this year after a tough battle with cancer. He was cared for by Marie Curie nurses in the final weeks of his life.

“My grandfather’s dying wish during this difficult time was to spend his final weeks at home, surrounded by family and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Marie Curie and the fantastic team of nurses who helped make this happen and enabled us to spend invaluable time with him,” said Hannah.

“The Great North Run provides me with the opportunity to say thank you to the charity and help raise more funds to support its work so that it can continue to support other families in the area.”

She will be joining her father Steven Crosbie – who has taken part in the event five times.

To sponsor Hannah visit justgiving.com/HannahCrosbie-in-memory-of-Grandad-Ronny/