Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Niki Wilson ran the Great North Run in 2008 in memory of her friend's daughter, Lucy, who died of leukaemia aged two.

She got in touch with Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Tyne before the race to tell us how she and her husband had been inspired to run to raise money for Children with Leukaemia.

You can read the full story below, but first Niki tells us how they got on.

En route to South Shields

Niki's Great North Run 2008:

"The Great North Run was a fabulous day and very emotional.Μύ

"I hadn't expected such support from the crowds and the bands en-route really carried us along.Μύ

"As I said to my husband, I have never smiled so much while I have been running.

"The finish line was a welcome sight and this experience will stay with me for a long time.Μύ

"On top of that, we have raised a significant amount of money for Children With Leukaemia, and that's what it was all about."

Read the original feature about why Niki decided to enter Great North Run 2008:

I am running with my husband, Mikki, for the charity Children With Leukaemia.Μύ

We watched our friends' one-year-old daughter, Lucy, battle against this terrible disease, and really wanted something positive to come out of this horrible situation.Μύ

We are honoured that her parents, Claire and Adrian, are our very good friends, and were devastated when Lucy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in March 2007.

Lucy was moved to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she underwent chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and a t-cell transplant, and her bright, bubbly nature gave us hope that she would make it.

Incredibly sadly, our wish didn't come true and Lucy passed away in March this year. She was two.

A runner for the charity in 2007

We are not natural runners, in fact I am pretty terrible at it and Mikki really dislikes it.

However, we are making this effort to show some amazing people how very special they are to us.

We really want to raise as much money as possible for the important research work that Children With Leukaemia carry out as, whilst it can't bring Lucy back, it might just help another little person survive this terrible disease.

We are blessed to have known Lucy, she touched our lives in a unique way and we will never forget her.