A CHEPSTOW woman is preparing to take part in

the Cardiff Half Marathon before a degenerative health condition means she can no longer run.

Despite being just 28, Chepstow’s Hannah Bevan knows time is not on her side and wants to tick this year’s Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon off her list of things to do before she is no longer able to.

Hannah was a drama, theatre and media student at Cardiff University when, aged 20, she started struggling to walk.

The Coleford Road resident was diagnosed with arthritis in her legs and was told that in the future her toes and feet will erode to the point that she will no longer be able to run.

Instead of waiting for that time to come, with the help of weekly chemotherapy treatment, Hannah increased her exercise and won a place at the Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon via a Twitter competition.

The Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Mara-thon is Wales’ largest mass participation event, and Hannah can’t wait for 4th October to arrive.

She said: “It is my biggest challenge so far. I view running this half marathon as a real challenge because of the arthritis and I also want to use the opportunity to raise money.

“I was diagnosed when I was 20. I could hardly walk when I was at university but for the last two years I have been doing a lot of training and now my legs have never felt better.

“I get a mild treatment of chemotherapy which helps but my toes and feet are eroding so I know further down the line that my legs are not going to be good so I’m trying to do it while I am younger.

“This is one of many things I want to do before I am no longer able to because of my legs.

“This kind of challenge keeps me going and gives me motivation to keep training.

“They think my legs will be alright for a good few years yet but only as long as I keep exercising.”

Well over 19,000 people regularly take part in the 10K and half marathon road races in Cardiff with one of Lloyds Bank’s aim to help encourage more people in sport.

Hannah, who grew up in Caldicot and went to Caldicot Comprehensive School before moving to Chepstow, is in the process of becoming a personal trainer and is currently able to exercise five times a week.

She will be competing alongside three of her friends but that hasn’t stopped the nerves ahead of the longest run of her life.

Hannah added: “It is a bit daunting and it is a bit scary having all those people there but I think it will go ok and I am excited.

“It was hard to pick the charity because there are so many great charities around. But we will be raising money for the local branch of Ty Hafan so it is a cause close to all of our hearts, especially because it is for the benefit of the area’s children.”

A spokesperson for the sponsors said: “Lloyds Bank is proud to continue its support of the Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon – Wales’ largest mass participation event.”

Entries are still available at: www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk