A VOLUNTEER who changed the face of running in Prudhoe has picked up a prestigious award.

Holly Kelleher received the Run Together Run Leader of the Year award at England Athletics’ North East Volunteer Awards.

She was recognised for establishing Prudhoe Plodders over the past year. The group already has 170 members, who are coached by Holly at Eastwoods Park in Prudhoe.

“I didn’t know I had been nominated,” she said: “It is a lovely surprise to win the regional award, because a lot of people are doing great things in local sport.

“I don’t do any of this for recognition, but it feels great, because despite juggling work and family life, I really wanted to do something good for the community.”

The award comes less than 12 months after Holly was named sports personality of the year at the 2017 Sport Tynedale Awards, not only for her role with the Plodders, but for establishing the weekly park run at Prudhoe.

She will now be entered for the national stage of the England Athletics awards, and will attend a ceremony next month.

“We started the Plodders in April of last year,” said Holly, “but this year we became established as a group, and the response has been fantastic.”