A Keighley woman who said she felt “helpless” when her friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, is taking part in a series of challenges to raise money for a charity which funds research into the disease.

Job Centre Plus worker Clair Gunning, will join more than 50,000 runners in Newcastle-upon-Tyne taking part in the Great North Run, on Sunday, September 19, in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign.

Next year she will cycle 298 miles from Agra to Jaipur, in India, in February, and from Leeds to Liverpool in July.

Her close friend Lynn Crangle, who is also from Keighley, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December last year. She is now undergoing chemotherapy and is said to be coping well.

Miss Gunning, 30, said: “I’m very excited to take on the Great North Run for Breast Cancer Campaign, as raising money for research into this disease is a cause close to my heart.

“I felt truly helpless when I was told of Lynn’s news and desperately wanted to do something to help. Lynn is a true inspiration to me and I hope lots of people will dig deep to sponsor me for my challenge and help the charity take a step closer to beating breast cancer.”

She added: “These challenges will not come easy to me as in February this year I could barely run a mile and hadn’t ridden a bike since childhood. I am training hard and hope that people will get behind me by supporting this cause.”

To help Miss Gunning reach her fundraising target of £5,000 visit justgiving.com/clair-gunning.

Anyone who already has a place in the Great North Run and wants to join the Breast Cancer Campaign team, is asked to phone (0207) 7493700 or e-mail greatnorthrun@breastcancercampaign.org.