A DEPUTY headteacher and his wife have been praised by a charity chair for their dedicated fundraising efforts.

Anthony Keefe, who works at Clitheroe’s Bowland High School, and his wife Nikki raised more than £900 for the Alzheimer’s Society by taking part in the 34th Great North Run.

They took part because Mr Keefe’s mother was diagnosed with the condition four years ago.

Mr Keefe, who lives in Preston, said: “The fight against dementia is a cause that is very close to my heart because of my mum and also because it is cruel disease that affects more and more people.

"Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them so I’m very proud that all our fundraising efforts for the charity will help make a real difference.”

Dame Gill Morgan, chair of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “People like Anthony and Nikki who have risen to the challenge of running the Great North Run make me proud to be associated with Alzheimer’s Society and everyone who wants to make a positive difference to the lives of people with dementia.

"I say that because Anthony and Nikki no doubt pushed themselves to the limit on the roads of the North East to help the Society lead the fight against dementia by not only raising valuable funds but also by raising awareness of what can be a devastating disease.”

PageGroup employees Charlotte Haworth, from Clitheroe, and colleague Alex Mackenzie, from Burnley also took part in the 13.1-mile run from Newcastle to South Shields.

The pair, who both work at the Manchester office of Michael Page – part of specialist recruitment company PageGroup — signed up for the half-marathon after learning about the charity through their work. The duo’s efforts will help staff at the firm raise £200,000 to support two PageGroup Research Scholarships, bringing two bright researchers into the dementia research field on PhD programmes.

Charlotte, 24, finished in two hours and eight minutes while Alex crossed the line in just one hour and 40 minutes.

Charlotte said: “I was really pleased that I managed to keep running the whole way, as I’d expected to have to walk for some of it.

“With the crowds there cheering the atmosphere was unreal.”