From the Retford Times:

GRATEFUL Karen Hodgson has completed a 13-mile half-marathon – three years after a life-saving heart transplant.

The 46-year-old former Retford-based social worker clocked a healthy two hours and 21 minutes in the Robin Hood race at Nottingham.

Her achievement marked a milestone for the Bassetlaw family who had seen Karen survive a transplant in July 2006 – only a fortnight after she went on the waiting list.

But Karen is only too well aware of how close she came to meeting her maker and was determined to raise cash for the unit at the world-famous Papworth Hospital where she underwent surgery.

And she followed on from sister Sally who raised £1,347 for the Cambridgeshire hospital by running the event a year after Karen's transplant operation in 2007.

Diagnosed with the serious heart illness cardio-myopathy in her late 20s, Karen's health deteriorated until she was given a year to live in 2006 – with a donor her only hope of survival.

"I was a social worker at Rampton Hospital and was very ill right up to my operation," said Karen.

"But I was very, very lucky and I want anyone who reads this to consider signing up to the donor register because people are still dying as they wait.

"Since my transplant my life has changed completely. I now live with my partner Rick in Ilkeston in Derbyshire and have joined the Erewash Valley Running Club.

"I've done a few road races and trained up to 11 miles but this was my first half-marathon and I still don't know how much I've raised."

Karen has gone back to her career and now works part-time as a psychiatric social worker with young people who have mental health problems.

Proud mum Janice Hodgson lives at Sturton-le-Steeple, near Retford.

"It's absolutely amazing that Karen is now so well and taking part in running club events," said Mrs Hodgson.

"She was really struggling before the transplant and was told she would not survive if a donor couldn't be found.

"Now she just wants to say thanks to the team who saved her life and gave her this second chance."

Donate to Karen's appeal at https://www.bmycharity.com/karenhodgson.

The 24-hour phone number to register as an organ donor is: 0300 1232323.