Nichola runs through the pain barrier

IT’S A WRAP . . . Nichola Shipway ran the Liverpool marathon in just over four hours

AN Oldham PCSO battled the pain and strain of a marathon — having fought back from spinal injuries she suffered in a crash.

Nichola Shipway was knocked off her bicycle by a car driver last year, but her long road to recovery ended on Sunday with 26.2 miles of delight.

Hospitalised with two cracked vertebrae, the accident led to Nichola missing out on her first marathon in Blackpool last year and a dream holiday to Florida with her two young children.

But the 36-year-old East Oldham Neighbourhood Police Team member overcame her injuries and embarked on six gruelling months of intense training for the Liverpool marathon.

She was delighted with her time of 4 hours and 11 minutes, saying: “It was a great day and I am so happy I have done it, especially after what happened last year.

“It was a big disappointment that I could not do the Blackpool marathon, so I was determined to complete my first marathon this time.”

As well as her own personal feat, she ran the marathon in aid of The Friendship Group, based at Wallshaw Street Community Centre, Mumps.

The group is made up of local residents who volunteer their time to provide meals, activities and support to the elderly in the community.

The £400 raised by Nichola will go towards the group’s annual Christmas dinner.

Nichola, however, got a pleasant surprise of her own at the finishing line.

“I was going across the line when I looked to my left and I saw about 15 of the volunteers from The Friendship Group with a banner cheering me on. It was amazing. I did not know about them all coming from Oldham. They must have been there for about an hour getting soaked through. It was a lovely surprise.”