A County Durham-born television star will be lacing up her running shoes to take on the Great North Run to raise vital funds for the NHS.

'Queen of Crafting'  Sara Davies is joining Emon Choudhury - a former Race Across the World winner -  in raising money for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Entrepreneur Sara, best-known from the popular BBC show "Dragons' Den," and Emon will be running the world-renowned half marathon on September 8 to help equip the trust’s Clinical Simulation Centre at Bishop Auckland with a state-of-the-art 'Laerdal SimMom' manikin.

Sara Davies and Emon Choudhury are raising money to buy a state-of-the-art birthing simulatorSara Davies and Emon Choudhury are raising money to buy a state-of-the-art birthing simulator (Image: CDDFT)

The SimMom, a high-fidelity training manikin, is an advanced birthing simulator designed to provide realistic training scenarios for medical professionals.

With this innovative technology, the centre will be able to offer first-class training and education opportunities, ensuring that healthcare staff across the region are equipped with the skills and confidence they need to deliver exceptional care.

Sara said: "I'm thrilled to be running the Great North Run for such a worthy cause. The Clinical Simulation Centre at Bishop Auckland is an incredible resource, and I’m honoured to support the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Charity in their mission to enhance care and patient experience through the training for healthcare professionals.

The birthing simulator will provide realistic training scenarios for medical professionalsThe birthing simulator will provide realistic training scenarios for medical professionals (Image: CDDFT)

"The SimMom manikin will be a game-changer, providing invaluable hands-on experience in a safe and controlled environment. I’m proud to contribute to a project that will have such a lasting impact on patient care in our community."

The funds raised by Sara and Emon’s participation in the Great North Run will go directly towards purchasing the manikin, which will be used to simulate a wide range of birthing scenarios, from routine deliveries to complex emergencies.

Sara Davies and Emon Choudhury will be running the Great North Run to raise money for the trustSara Davies and Emon Choudhury will be running the Great North Run to raise money for the trust (Image: CDDFT)

This will allow medical teams to practice and refine their skills, ensuring that they are fully prepared to handle real-life situations with the highest level of expertise and confidence.

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Pat Chambers, County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust Charity manager said: "We are incredibly grateful to Sara and Emon for choosing to support our charity through the Great North Run.

"The funds they raise will make a significant difference in our ability to provide top-quality training for our staff. The SimMom manikin will be a vital addition to our Clinical Simulation Centre, helping us to continue delivering the best possible care to our patients."

Donations to Sara and Emon can be made through the official fundraising page at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/birthing-mama