A Darlington woman who is also a semi-finalist for this year's Miss England competition is set to run the Great North Run in Newcastle to raise funds for the charity MIND.

Hayley Bell, 25, from Darlington, will join thousands of other runners in Newcastle on September 2023 sudden loss of her father on June 11 of this year.

The budding star competed in the virtual heat that took place on the Miss England app where she received an abundance of support from voters which has now led her to compete in the semi-final of the competition in Blackpool.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Hayley Bell.

She will join women from across the UK on October 16 to fight for a place in the national final in Spring 2024.

Hayley said: “I decided to get into running for this fundraiser, but it is something I haven’t been interested in before, but I have been dancing since I was little.

“My dad became ill quite suddenly – he was in hospital for a while, so I stopped being a student to help him get better.

“We were visiting him every day and he was getting better, but he suddenly had a stroke and over a period of two days he very suddenly passed away.

“It was a really big thing and I struggled with it as it was so sudden.”

Darlington and Stockton Times: Hayley Bell.

Based on her experiences, Hayley decided to choose the mental health charity MIND and fundraise by running the Great North Run on September 10.

“MIND is a great charity that resonates with me during this tough time. I think my dad would be really proud.

“He was always super proud of everything I did and really supportive.”

Hayley’s talents do not end there – she will soon be competing to be crowned Miss England in October.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Hayley Bell.

She said: "Blackpool is the home of Strictly so I might focus on my Ballroom dancing skills! I'm super excited to be one of the Miss England semi-finalists.

"I have always been shy with things like this in the past, so I cannot wait to join the other girls on the journey."