St Andrews woman aiming to prove doctors wrong by running up grand total

A St Andrews woman who was told she would never run again has taken up the ultimate fitness fundraiser.

Sophie Mullins will attempt to cover 98 kilometres across the country as she raises money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Her ambitious challenge is even more inspiring as, in 2011, she lost the ability to walk more than a few hundred metres at a time. A year later she was diagnosed with the rare disease mastocytosis and was told she would never run again.

The 31-year-old was picked by Vodafone JustTextGiving to take on its Fittest Fundraiser challenge, which involves running not one, but seven of Nova’s Great Run Series events.

Her endeavour kicked off in Manchester on May 26. Over the next five months, she will continue to conquer races in Edinburgh, Sheffield, Birmingham, Portsmouth and Newcastle’s renowned Great North Run.

Sophie said: “I’m getting myself into the best shape I can to take on anything the future holds and as I have determination by the bucket-load, nothing will stop me completing all seven events.”