Oldham College tutor who turned her life around needs help to keep London Marathon place

A tutor at Oldham College, who turned her life around, needs to raise £2,000 for charity to keep her place in the London Marathon.

Danielle Vipond, 40, from Oldham, was diagnosed as obese and was an outpatient at the Royal Oldham Hospital just 12 months ago.

But now she is preparing to run the UK’s biggest marathon to raise money for the YMCA.

She was not given a normal ballot place in the run, but was granted a charity place – meaning she needs to get the sponsorship to keep her position.

This time last year, Danielle was being treated for hypertension and struggling with anxiety and panic attacks on a weekly basis.

The turning point was a Christmas gift from her brother – a ticket to enter the North West Tough Mudder.

Danielle said: “I needed a change. I had to get a hold of my life and start living it again.

“I have spent years allowing my anxiety to rule my life, so I made the decision to change through a simple Couch to 5k app.

“Each week was a battle between my body and mind to get through the walking and running.

“Without the support of my running partners, I would have given up.”

Danielle posted her running times to Facebook and was encouraged by the response.

She had also started eating and feeling better, while her anxiety was improving.

She lost four stone and says she is a happier person with a healthy addiction to running.

After completing several 5km and 10km runs – and the 10-mile Tough Mudder in September – she has set her heart on completing the London Marathon, but needs to raise funds for charity to keep her place.

She added: “I would like to inspire other people who are either overweight, a working mum or dealing with mental health.

“Running has changed my life.”

You can sponsor Danielle at her Just Giving page here.