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Heaton’s celebrity fitness coach takes on the Great North Run for vulnerable children

ByEmily

Sep 11, 2016

Celebrity personal trainer, Sarah Maxwell from Heaton, who has helped shape up Loose Women’s Andrea McLean, ran yesterday’s Great North Run to raise money for The Children’s Society.

Sarah, tackled the 13.1mile course on Sunday 11 September along with her running team in the world’s biggest and most iconic half marathon. The former Heaton Harrier and her team-mates were looking to raise £2,000 for the charity which supports the most vulnerable children across the country suffering abuse, hardship and neglect.

The celebrity fitness guru is no stranger to exercise with clients including Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke and Loose Women’s Andrea McLean, but she is a reluctant long-distance runner and has gathered a team of self-confessed novices to don their running shoes and pound the streets to help disadvantaged children.

Sarah, who started her career in fitness as a coaching assistant at Gateshead Council, has taken up the challenge of training ‘Team Sarah’ members which include her good friend Michelle Healey, daughter Gabby and niece Nicola from Newcastle, and to make sure they all finish the course in one piece.

Sarah says: “I had some tough times growing up, enduring emotional abuse throughout my childhood and was often helped by social services, so I can really relate to the work that The Children’s Society does to protect Britain’s vulnerable children.

“I like running, but only if it’s under 100metres! People always think that as I’m a fitness trainer I’d be running long distances all the time but, actually, I hate it! What I really like is training people and giving them confidence to reach their goals.

The Children’s Society’s Challenge Event Co-ordinator Reena Ruda says: “We’re delighted that Sarah and her team ran the Great North Run to raise money and awareness of The Children’s Society. We work to help children and young people who have nowhere left to turn, so with the support of inspiring people like Sarah, we’re able to continue our life-changing work.”

Donate to Sarah’s Justgiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/SE-Maxwell

If anyone would like to run for The Children’s Society any races or challenge events they can apply here: www.childrenssociety.org.uk/events

By Emily