A SCHOOL worker has hailed the “amazing experience” of running a half-marathon.

Jane Livingstone took on the challenge at the Great Manchester Run earlier this year as part of a team running for Reverse Rett, the charity aiming to find a cure for the rare neurological condition Rett Syndrome.

She ran alongside Andy Stevenson from the charity and Gary Chambers, of Educating Greater Manchester, as well as Amber, a young girl with Rett Syndrome who was pushed round the course in a wheelchair.

They completed the race in two hours, 46 minutes, and 45-year-old Jane, who lives near Humbie, said it was a great day.

She told the Courier: “It was an amazing experience with half of Manchester out cheering everyone on.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, and I think due to the anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing, there seemed to be an extra sense of ‘coming together’ in the city.”

Jane was inspired to take on the run by Eliza McKinney, a girl from North Berwick who has Rett Syndrome and whose family have taken on a number of fundraisers to help find a cure.

Jane said that the seven-year-old was “amazingly brave” and, on her JustGiving page, added: “She is part of the reason I started running – her bravery, determination and smile inspired me to try and do something to help find a way to help children with this incredibly debilitating, life-altering condition.”

Jane told the Courier she was pleased that the money raised was going towards “groundbreaking” work to find a cure for the condition, which mainly affects young girls.

She also picked out her highlight of the run, saying: “We all made it across the finish line and got our medals, which was brilliant, but for me the best part of the day was seeing Amber smile and come to life when she recognised part of the route.”

To add to Jane’s total, which is currently over £500, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/jane-livingstone2