A HOSPICE patient who suffers with a lung condition will be given the honour of setting runners on their way at the Leigh Community 10K race.

Joe Davies, from Tyldesley, will fire the starting pistol at 9.30 at the event on Sunday, August 11 where hundreds of runners will be taking part.

Joe was diagnosed with incurable emphysema almost 18 months ago and has to wear breathing apparatus all the time.

He started attending Wigan and Leigh Hospice's Oak Centre in May.

Dad-of-three Joe, 75, said: "I feel fantastic that I’ll be starting the Leigh 10K- it’s something to be proud of. For a few years I couldn’t get my breath and my wife Kath kept telling me to go to the doctors and I said I wasn’t going.

"When I did go I was sent straight to hospital although I didn’t want to go because I felt fine. A specialist used a machine to take my statistics and put me on oxygen straight away for 16 hours a day.”

The Oak Centre supports people who have been diagnosed with an incurable condition to manage their illness so that they can still make the most out of life.

Joe found out about the centre at a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinic and now regularly attends taking part in exercises and meeting others.

“I really enjoy the exercises,” said Joe.

“Doing them makes me feel better in myself.

"I also like how you can meet other people at the Oak Centre who have the same condition.

"Coming here has got me looking at life differently.

"I know that there’s nothing can be done for me but I know what to expect when it comes and I feel more relaxed about it.”

All runners, joggers and walkers of any ability can join in the third Leigh Community 10K as long as they are over 15 years of age on the day of the event.

Standard entry fee is £17 or £15 if you run for a UK Athletics/ARC Running Club.

Registration is at leigh10k.co.uk.

Entrants can donate to Wigan and Leigh Hospice when they register or raise money for a charity of their choice.

Profits from the race will be donated to the hospice.

Each runner will also receive a specially designed medal.

A 12-month gym membership at any Inspiring healthy lifestyles managed leisure centre will be awarded to the person who wears the most original costume.

Inspiring healthy lifestyles, FCR Events Ltd, Leigh Harriers, Nectar Creative, Rotary Club of Leigh, Time2Run Events, Wigan and Leigh Hospice and Wigan Council are all working together once again to put on the event with the support of Leigh MP Jo Platt.