AN OAKWORTH teenager running the London Marathon for Asthma UK won't be the only one getting fit.

Hannah Yates will host exercise classes in the village this month as part of her fundraising drive for the charity.

Hannah, 19, who herself has asthma, hopes to raise £2,000 through marathon sponsorship and proceeds from a series of local events.

She has organised fitness sessions at Holden Hall on February 27, circuits from 9.30am to 10.15am and Zumba from 10.30am to 11.15am.

The cost is £5 for one session and £8 for both.

Hollie Moore, owner of HM Dance, has agreed to lead the sessions for free, boosting the amount Hannah will raise.

Hannah said: “I will also be selling tea and coffee and healthy snacks between classes as well as afterwards.”

Hannah launched her fundraising drive last September with a coffee morning at Oakworth Methodist Church, raising almost £200 with help from friends and family.

Hannah has been living with asthma for several years, and began her fitness regime after feeling the effects of her course at Craven College and apprenticeship as a quantity surveyor in Leeds.

She said she used commuting and college assignments as an excuse not to look after her health, but by winter she was having repeated asthma attacks and coughs would often develop into chest infections.

Knowing that exercise was one of the best ways to get asthma under control, she signed up for the Keighley BigK 10km run, coming second in her age group and going on to finish the Edinburgh Half Marathon in two hours.

She plans to run the 26.2 miles in the London Marathon with inhaler in hand as she does in every race, without needing to take it, as a reminder of how far she has come.

Hannah said she chose Asthma UK to benefit from her efforts because it carries out “amazing” work to help find a cure for asthma.

She added: “I will also be helping spread the word over uncontrolled asthma and the symptoms. In the UK 10,000 people die a year of asthma attacks, and 90 per cent could have been prevented.

“Mostly I want to be able to encourage other suffers to take up running or any form of exercise as the results on your health are incredible.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help Hannah’s fundraising efforts should visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/shortofbreath.