A South Cheshire advanced nurse practitioner is running the Manchester half marathon next month to help raise money for The Christie to buy another PET-CT scanner.

The fun-loving 43-year-old says her work life has meant she has seen patients having to travel further afield as far as Oldham to get a scan done as no appointments were available locally.

So Susan Hancock decided to do something about this and launched a JustGiving page here to help The Christie buy another PET-CT scanner.

And she also launched a running club, the Holmes Chapel Run Club, to get others on board to get fit and raise money towards the project to buy another PET-CT scanner.

Each runner pays a weekly subscription of £1 to take part which goes to Susan's JustGiving page.

Members of Holmes Chapel Run Club at their first run in July. (Photo: Susan Hancock)

"If you find a lump or something else and need a PET-CT scan ideally you want it done as quickly as possible to ease any worry.

"Waiting to have one done can be agonising. I imagine you would want an answer as quickly as possible," said Susan who lives in nearby Byley.

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"Initially I put a post on Social Media asking if anyone was interested in starting a running club in Holmes Chapel where I'm from.

"I was inundated with replies so we held the first one back in around July. Since then it's just grown and grown and we now have around 20 members."

Every Wednesday night, the group of runners meet outside the old Barclays Bank in Holmes Chapel to go on their run.

"It's as much about meeting new people and enjoying running whatever stage you are at. It doesn't matter if you're a complete beginner or have run for a while you're welcome to join us. Males or females are welcome.

She added: "I am running Manchester Half Marathon on 4 October in aid of the Christie. The money raised will go towards purchasing a new whole-body PET-CT scanner.

"This equipment will be so useful to those in the North West, many of whom currently have to travel to Oldham for this scan, adding to the stress they already have from a suspected cancer diagnosis."

The group is already planning a Park Run and is also considering doing a Race for Life event together. Anyone who wants to join can turn up in front of the old Barclays Bank building on Wednesdays at 7.30 pm or email [email protected]