'Unstoppable' inspiration Hayley ready for 20th Run

A GATESHEAD woman is running her 20th Great North Run this weekend - despite having been diagnosed with breast cancer in the year since her last effort.

- By SAM VOLPE

Hayley Hutchinson is recovering from chemotherapy and a knee replacement, but that won't stop her come tomorrow.

This year, Hayley is proudly running for the Gateshead Health Charity - and raising cash in aid of the chemotherapy day unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Given her own treatment, that is something with personal significance.

She was diagnosed just two days after the end of the 2024 Great North Run. But as she has been undergoing treatment she has been inspired to keep her up incredible Great North Run record.

As she takes the start line this year, it will mark 19 in a row. This is in addition to an earlier 13.1-mile effort back when Hayley was just 18.

Charity bosses at the Gateshead hospital said Hayley “remains unstoppable”. They added: “Her grit and positivity are truly inspiring.”