A WYBUNBURY woman who was told by doctors she would never be able to run is doing a half marathon in memory of one of her best friends.

Natasha Minter, 22, who was diagnosed with adolescent scoliosis aged 16, is doing the Robin Hood Half Marathon in aid of global children’s charity Plan UK.

She chose the charity because it was supported by her friend Fernando Diez-Jones who died suddenly in his sleep, aged 24, while travelling in Colombia in April.

Natasha and Fernando, who was originally from Solihull, met while at Nottingham Trent University, and became housemates and best friends.

“It was the biggest shock of my life when Fernando passed away," she said.

"He was a brilliant housemate, always supporting everybody, and was such a clever guy.

“I spent a couple of months just crying after he died but then I thought Fernando wouldn’t want me to be like this.

“He really supported charities and was so passionate about Plan. He had wanted to work for them when he finished his master’s degree, so I decided to run for Plan in his memory. I always keep him in my mind when I am training."

Natasha was found to have three different curvatures of the spine, after years of pain in her back.

After opting out of a major operation to correct it, Natasha has since embarked on a nutrition programme, which she says has reduced her pain enabling her to train for the race.

“I never used to be able to sleep at night, waking up with pain in the morning. Now I just feel so much better and it means I have so much more flexibility in my life,” she said.

“I never dreamed of running a half marathon, I had never even run a mile before this. Now I can do the one thing that doctors told me not to.

“I have always believed that just because somebody’s defined you as something, it shouldn’t define you forever,” she adds.

The Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon takes place in Nottingham on September 27.

To sponsor Natasha visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/thereaintnopartywithoutadj