Seven members of staff from Sedgefield Racecourse are taking part in the BUPA Great North Run from Newcastle to South Shields this Sunday.

Melissa Hogan, husband-and-wife team Jill and Jeff Williamson, Rachel Divers, Kevin Hutton, James Grant and Lee Kerr are all hoping they will be first past the post in the 13-mile event.

And the venue is to become a campsite for up to 250 Great North runners and spectators this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The racecourse is part of the Northern Racing group, which has 38 employees taking part in the run.

They have chosen to run for the Meningitis Research Foundation after Milly Harrington, the two-year-old grandaughter of Northern Racing's operation manager Julie Harrington, from Manchester, died from the disease two years ago.

The racecourse's commercial executive is Melissa Hogan, 22, who is mum to one-year-old Henry Grant and lives in the marina area of Hartlepool.

She said: "None of us have done it before. I've not started training yet! I ran a mile around the racecourse yesterday and I am quite fit anyway as the job keeps me active.

"I will be able to complete it just with the atmosphere on the day.

"Everyone is really nervous but looking forward to it."

The 250 campers expected at the site will be treated to various events over the weekend including pasta parties and Melissa said the racecourse had just the facilities to cater for the weary runners.

To sponsor the staff, visit www.justgiving.com/MelissaHogan.