Marks & Spencer employees across the north west have joined forces to take on the Great North Run this month to raise money for Breast Cancer Now.

Managers from M&S Handforth Dean, Sale, Congleton, and Stretford will be participating in the world’s biggest half marathon in Newcastle on Sunday in the hope of raising £25,000 for the UK’s largest breast cancer charity.

In total, nine managers – Mark Simpson, Sharon King, Ross Fernyhough, Dawn Allen, Alicia Warner, Stefan Heard, Liz Rushton, Marc Rutland and Rob Pilkington – will be donning their running shoes and tackling the heart-pumping 13.1 miles on September 11.

Marc Rutland, Finance Operations Manager at Handforth Dean, said: “The whole team is excited to take part in this year’s Great North Run.

“We have never undertaken anything like this and it is so reassuring to know all the stores in the North West are supporting us on the tough task of running the world’s biggest half marathon.

“We have been truly amazed by the generosity and support we have received from both colleagues and customers throughout the north west.

“If it wasn’t for them we would not be able to support Breast Cancer Now and their continued efforts to make progress against cancer.

“Breast Cancer Now is a charity we feel very strongly about as cancer affects so many people in some way or another at some point in their lives.

“We hope that our customers will get behind our fundraising activities and show their support by donating on our Just Giving page.”

Breast Cancer Now funds research in to this devastating disease, helping scientists discover how to prevent breast cancer, how to detect it earlier and how to treat it effectively at every stage to stop the disease taking lives.

The money raised will be invested in research that will help prevent 9,000 cases of breast cancer every year by 2025.