A MOTHER is taking part in the Great North Run in tribute to her son's battle with diabetes.

Rachel Tranter, from North Littleton, aged 43, is taking on the challenge on Sunday in Newcastle after her son Alex was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, aged six.

She previously took on the London Marathon, less than a year after not being able to run more than one mile.

She said: "I wanted to do this as when Alex my son was just 6 years old his pancreas stopped working and he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This meant he was on a minimum of 4 insulin injections each day, often more.

"Alex took this all in his stride and even though he didn't like having the injections not once did he complain 'why me'. After a year of being diagnosed "Alex was luckily enough to be given an insulin pump.

"I cannot put into words how much the pump has changed our lives, especially Alex's.

"Alex has gone from having 4 to 6 injections per day to having just one injection every 2 days when we have to connect the cannula to his pump.

"The day that Alex had his pump fitted he said straight away that he wanted to raise enough money to buy more pumps so more people with a Type 1 diabetes could benefit from the pumps and therefore would have to have less injections.

"Every year Alex, myself and our family raise money for Diabetes UK to help others.

"After the London Marathon, Diabetes UK asked me if I would keep running for them to help raise awareness of diabetes and since completing the London Marathon I have also completed the Edinburgh Marathon as well as many half marathons too.

"I would just like to thank everyone for all of their kind donations especially Rachel and Pete Grinnell at Complete Spas and Tom Tarver and Rob Johnson at Johnsons Letting."

Ms Tranter set out to raise £2,000 but has now raised over £7,500.

Complete Spas in Blackminster, agreed at the beginning of the year for every hot-tub that they sold they would kindly donate £20.00 from each sale.

This alone has helped raise over £1,500 and Johnsons Property Consultants in Evesham have also donated £500.

To sponsor the challenge visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Rachel-Tranter457.