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Gran to run on Olympic track
Denise Bell
AN energetic grandmother is set to be one of the first to cross the finishing line in the new Olympic Stadium.
Hartlepool woman Denise Bell is one of 5,000 lucky people to be drawn out of a hat to take part in a five-mile race around the Olympic Park ahead of London 2012.
The National Lottery Olympic Park Run on March 31 will see the mum-of-five and grandmother of one finish on the track that will welcome the likes of Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Jessica Ellis just a few months later.
Denise, who runs for Burn Road Harriers, said: “It’s an amazing honour and I can’t believe that I’ve been picked.
“To be one of the first over the finishing line will be quite something.”
Denise, from Gladstone Street, on Hartlepool’s Headland, is using her opportunity to raise money for the palliative care department of the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
The service helped her mum, Linda Harrison, when she was diagnosed with cancer two years ago aged 63.
The disease claimed her life just 13 weeks after she was told she had incurable tumours.
Denise, who works for Footprints (Learning for Life) Nursery, in Tees Street, said: “It was a shock, but thankfully it was very quick for my mum.
“She got a lot of help from the trust and I want to use this opportunity to help them in return. My family and friends are sponsoring me, but I’m hoping to get some Hartlepool companies to get behind me.”
Denise is also backing the Mail’s Race for Fitness campaign that aims to get 2,012 people
The mum to Kelly, 25, Emma, 22, Rachel, 20, Abbi, 16, and Tony, 15, started running in 2008 after seeing people taking part in the Race for Life.
She can now run a half-marathon, which is 13.1 miles, in 1 hour 50 minutes and trains five times a week at Springs, at Hartlepool Marina.
Denise, who is married to taxi driver Andrew, 43, said: “I absolutely love running. I saw people in the Race for Life and thought ‘I wish I could do that’.
“Now I’ve done the Great North Run, two marathons and train regularly. I’m addicted.
“Anyone can do it if I can. I’m 45 with five children.”
Despite being a hardened competitor, Denise is not worried about setting a blistering time in London.
“I’m going to go and savour the atmosphere,” said Denise.
“I’ve been lucky to have the chance and I’m going to enjoy every minute.”
She joins the likes of Jeff Stelling, Lord Sebastian Coe and former-Olympian Fatima Whitbread in supporting the Hartlepool Mail campaign.
But town residents don’t have to be world beating athletes to take part in the challenge.
Maybe you just want pound the pavements a couple of times a week or make a splash in the swimming baths.
Even if your challenge for 2012 is giving up smoking or drinking less alcohol, let us know.
To join the illustrious list contact Chris Cordner by writing to him at New Clarence House, Wesley Square, Hartlepool, TS24 8BX.
Alternatively email chris.cordner@northeast-press.co.uk or call (01429) 239377.
l To support Denise,
email d.bell11@ntlworld.com
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
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