Caitlin blazes the trail for dementia sufferer Stiles and boys of 1966
THE granddaughter of 1966 England football hero Nobby Stiles was one of thousands of runners who took part in a sun-drenched Great North run yesterday.
Caitlin Stiles, 21, tackled the half marathon to raise money for mental healthy charity MIND after her World Cup-winning grandfather was diagnosed with dementia.
The tough-tackling midfielder is one of a number of Sir Alf Ramsey’s boys to develop the disease.
Nobby, 77, began suffering from dementia two years ago and law student Caitlin is writing a dissertation about how football’s governing bodies can protect current players from developing the disease.
The Newcastle University student said: “I was running for my granddad Nobby Stiles.
“He is suffering from dementia so it’s very close to my heart. I think dementia needs to be taken more seriously as a mental health condition, the actual depressions, the anxiety and the agitation that comes with the disease itself. That’s why I chose to run, to raise awareness of such a terrible disease.
“I am a proud northerner. I go to uni here, it’s a great city, and I love the Geordies.”
In the elite race Olympic hero Sir Mo Farah beat the field for the sixth time as thousands of supporters lined the streets of Newcastle upon Tyne. The 36-year-old completed the 13.1 mile course in 59 minutes and seven seconds, which was a new personal best.
More than 57,000, including model and TV presenter Nell McAndrew, took part in this year’s event.
With many wearing fancy dress costumes, they were rewarded with hazy sunshine accompanied by a cooling breeze.
Celebrating its 38th year, the Great North Run stretches from Newcastle to South Shields and began as a fun run in 1981.
Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei smashed the women’s half marathon world record with a time of one hour four minutes and 28 seconds.
Paralympics champion David Weir won the elite men’s wheelchair race while Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Jade Jones-Hall took first in the women’s wheelchair race in 50 minutes 15 seconds.