Hairdresser Lauren Hewitt-Dawson is swapping her scissors for running shoes when she takes part in the Great North Run to raise money for charity.
The senior stylist at award-winning salon Halo Hair and Beauty in Harrogate is helping celebrate the third anniversary at its Leeds Road premises by taking part in the world-famous half marathon in Newcastle.
Keen horsewoman Lauren, 30, decided she wanted a challenge after successfully completing a number of 10K runs – so she signed up for the Great North Run to raise money for London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
This year, as well as Lauren competing in the Great North Run, staff have organised a week of third birthday celebrations including a charity raffle and cup cake bake – with all proceeds going to Lauren’s chosen charity of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Lauren said: I have two horses and like to stay fit.
I’ve done a number of 10K runs but have never done a half marathon before. I have been following a training programme and am going out running two or three times a week to prepare.
Each year at Halo we celebrate our move to the Leeds Road salon by raising money for charity, so I thought taking part in the Great North Run would be a good way for us to collect cash for a good cause and mark our birthday too.
Halo Hair owner, Joseph said: I feel very proud of Lauren and her determination to run the Great North Run to raise money for such a good cause.
We wanted to boost her fundraising efforts for Great Ormond Street Hospital even further by using it as an opportunity to raise money to mark our third anniversary at the Leeds Road salon.
Last year, the salon handed over a cheque for £1600 to Harrogate’s Acorn Committee and Dementia Forward following their second birthday fund-raising event.