MORE than £1,500 has been raised for a Cumbrian charity after a woman with cerebral palsy completed a half marathon. 

Francesca Dean has been a regular visitor to The Lake District Calvert Trust for nearly 20 years, and it is also where she would later meet her best friend, Megan Stockwell-Allen.

Sadly, Megan passed away earlier this year, and Francesca has been driven to fundraise as much as possible to pay tribute to her legacy and allow other people with disabilities to experience the opportunities that Calvert has offered her and Megan. 

Speaking to the News & Star, Francesca said: "From that first visit in 2006, I believe that Calvert changed my life. I love it. They take the parents on board as well which is extremely important when you've got a child or young person with a disability.

"Losing Megan has changed me. It's made me want to help children and young people with disabilities who feel like they don't have a voice.

On May 12, Francesca completed a half-marathon in Leeds alongside two of her support workers. 

Francesca said: "The marathon was really emotional and people's reactions were brilliant. It was absolutely amazing and I want to do it again next year. To raise £1,500 is just unbelievable.

"Calvert can use that money for new equipment, new activities and the hydrotherapy pool, which is a big asset and is a massive help to people with cerebral palsy. Anything that can be raised to make sure the centre can keep helping people."

Francesca lives in the North West, in Rossendale, but this Cumbrian charity is a huge part of her life and something she is eternally grateful for. 

She concluded: "It gives me the chance to do things I wouldn't have otherwise been able to do. Going to Calvert has made me grow up into a really strong-willed adult and the woman I am today.

"It's so good for your mental health. Your mind goes to what you can do rather than what you can't, and it's so good to not focus on the negative side of disability."