HER husband and sister-in law both suffer with cystic fibrosis (CF), now this self-confessed York “non-runner” is stepping up her preparations to take part in a race to raise funds for others affected by the disease.

York teaching assistant Emily Birkinshaw, of Leeman Road, York, is preparing to line up alongside hundreds of runners in this year’s York 10k on August 1, to raise cash for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Emily, 23, who will be running alongside her husband Peter’s friend, Roy Gibson, said: “Both my husband and his sister, Sarah Lunn, have CF and the CF Trust has done a brilliant job of keeping them, and lots of other people, fit, healthy and alive by investing in research and clinical care.

“When Peter and Sarah were growing up doctors said they probably wouldn’t live beyond 18. But they are still here and fit and healthy at the ages of 25 and 23.

“I owe the Cystic Fibrosis Trust so much and I am aiming to raise £500. I am not a runner by any stretch of the imagination, so this will be an epic challenge for me.”

CF is one of the UK’s most common, life-threatening inherited diseases and claims three lives a week in the UK.

It is caused by a single defective gene and, as a result, the internal organs especially the lungs and digestive system, become clogged with thick sticky mucus resulting in chronic infections and inflammation in the lungs and difficulty digesting food.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK’s only national charity dealing with all aspects of the disease. It funds research to treat and cure CF and aims to ensure appropriate clinical care and support for sufferers.

You can sponsor Emily at justgiving.com/emilybirkinshaw

If you would like to run for the CF Trust in the York 10k there are charity places available. Phone 0300 373 1100, email events@cftrust.org.uk or visit cftrust.org.uk • If you are running the 10K and want to let The Press know your story, you can log on to thepress.co.uk/york10k, email jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk or send us a video message. To send a video message, record your story, text York in the main message, attach the video, and text the message to 80360.