A Macclesfield woman will take part in her first ever half-marathon, in memory of her late partner. 

Macclesfield resident and Bank Manager Kate Donnelly, is taking part in the Great North Run 2024. 

Kate is raising money for charity, in memory of her late husband Kyle Donnelly, who passed away last September. 

Kate will raise vital funds for the Bone Cancer Research Trust, as Kyle had osteosarcoma, which is cancerous tumours in the bones. 

The mother and Tytherington resident will take on the 13-mile sprint on September 8.

Copy paste https://www.justgiving.com/page/kate-donnelly-1701591626372?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fkate-donnelly-1701591626372&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share&fbclid=IwAR1qKp6mDIY1EKsVTDVp-MvSNuJU7cXTNAeSvat88SdHIkq1t-32wq56S-M into your browser or head to the red links throughout this article to donate.

Macclesfield Nub News met up with Kate to find out more.

"Kyle was a big fan of the gym and exercise. I was not and never have been", said Kate. 

"He would always try and get me to do things like what I am doing now. 

"So I thought what better way to try and raise money for him, than doing something that he wouldn't expect me to do, and that he would be quite proud of me for doing. 

"He would have definitely found it quite funny as well that's for sure. 

Kate aims to raise £5000 for the Leeds-based charity. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone with a half-marathon, so that was my reason behind it." 

"I chose the Great North Run as Kyle died on September 2, and the run is on the eighth. So it will be just over a year after he has passed when I will take on the run."

The JustGiving currently stands at a mighty £2174, with 50 people having already donated.

Once the September half-marathon is complete, Kate hopes to have raised £5000.

"Thank you very much to those who have donated so far. Literally, every penny does help," she explained.

The Yorkshire-based charity have been a vital support system for the Donnelly family.

"Even if it is to produce things like information leaflets for young people in particular that are having complex surgeries with their limbs amputated. 

"It is all about the research. There are not enough available treatments for this. It has not changed in 40 years, for Kyle's particular type of bone cancer and really other types of bone cancer too. 

"Bone cancer research is so low on a priority scale of cancer research.

"I had never heard of bone cancer before, didn't even know it was a type of cancer you could get. It was never something we expected Kyle would have. 

In the UK, around 145 people are diagnosed with osteosarcoma each year, according to the BCRT. (Image - CC 3.0 Unchanged Nephron https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Osteosarcoma#/media/File:Osteosarcoma.jpg)

"Literally every penny that everybody donates is helping somebody in the future live."

Kate has never done anything like this before, and hopes to do more fundraisers for the charity in the future. 

She is training around Tytherington, and will do the Tatton 10K in the run-up to the event. 

Kate went onto detail how the Bone Cancer Research Trust has helped her personally.

"When Kyle was diagnosed we had no idea what osteosarcoma was. We had no idea there was a community of people we could reach out at," she recalled. 

"The Christie put us in touch with Bone Cancer Research Trust. I spoke to a lady there who was an angel. 

"She was just somebody I could call, who knew everything about it. I could call her anytime. All you need in those sorts of situations is a tiny bit of hope to keep you going.

"And then I found this amazing community of people that got in touch with us and still speak to now, and that is all because of them [BCRT]. 

"They have provided this community and information that would have not be available to us because there is so little known about it. 

"I was not a parent of someone with bone cancer. But most people who do get osteosarcoma are young adults and children. So having the BCRT there to support them, is invaluable, it is everything. 

"They are a wonderful charity, started by families just like mine, who lost loved ones and want to make a difference.

"BCRT also helped me to gain access to another treatment for Kyle on compassionate use grounds.

"Unfortunately it didn't work, but it was still worth trying and we wouldn't of been able to try if it wasn't for them, or potentially would of had to pay for it which would of been in excess of £100,000."

Kate's fundraising has already had a butterfly effect, with a friend doing a similar fundraiser for the same charity, who has raised £500 herself.

The people of Macclesfield can donate to Kate's crowdfunder via this link. But the awareness for bone cancer is equally important for Kate.

The Bone Cancer Research Trust responded to Macclesfield Nub News' request for comment.

Chloe Stephenson, Challenge Events Fundraising Officer at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said: "We are so grateful to Kate and all her supporters for their remarkable efforts."

"The funds raised will be put to good use to ensure that our vital work can continue.

"On behalf of all future patients, their families and all of us here at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, I would like to wish a heartfelt thank you to Kate for her support – she is truly inspirational and is invaluable in our fight against this cruel disease."

Another positive side effect from the fundraising, is that running has been a huge boost for Kate's mental health.

"I absolutely love it," she added.

I don't think I will ever not run now. Which still feels so strange to say!"

Macclesfield: Once again, you can donate to Kate's fundraiser HERE.