A TEENAGER who found running helped her manage epileptic seizures has starred on a new TV programme alongside Olympic gold medalist Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.
Katie Lee, 19, of Chantry Grove, Royston, has suffered from epilepsy since she was just six, and one day after going to watch her dad take part in a parkrun, she decided to have a go herself and has not looked back since.
Parkrun is a free weekly 5km timed run open to anyone to take part in, which takes places every Saturday morning at more than 1,400 locations across the world - including Locke Park.
Taking part in her first run at the age of 13, Katie found that running not only helped with her epilepsy but helped her build her confidence and gave her a chance to meet new people and make friends.
“Epilepsy has changed my life severely, the simplest things for some people is what I find very challenging,” said Katie.
“When I have a seizure I become tearful and need reassuring. It’s not easy to live with because of the things I can’t do.”
Last summer Katie was contacted by Tim Langford, a London director and script writer, who was directing a new documentary, Jessica’s parkrun heroes - which is a series of ten inspirational short films telling the stories of people who take part in parkruns across the UK.
Katie took part in a telephone interview with Tim explaining everything she had been through with her condition but was later told that she wasn’t going to be featured in the series.
However, Katie then decided to make a short film herself telling her story, which she later sent off to the production company and received a phone call saying the producers had changed their mind and wanted her to star.
“I only found out I was taking part in it back in December,” added Katie.
“When I first went to meet Jess Ennis she told me that she was really looking forward to meeting me because she saw all of my video telling my story and really wanted to speak to me about it.
“She was really down to Earth and really lovely and kept praising me about everything I have done.
“The filming took place one Friday in local places around Barnsley and then we filmed on a Saturday during the parkrun.
“It was a really brilliant experience and in the future I’d love to help people to get active who suffer with learning difficulties.”
Katie’s episode of parkrun heroes is an emotional story where she explains what life is like living with epilepsy and can be seen on Sky On Demand.
