A PRESTWICH family chosen to take part in the Great Manchester Run Family Challenge were given a boost to their training when they met Sir Mo Farah.

The Parry family, from Prestwich travelled to London where they had a surprise meeting with Great Britain’s most successful distance runner.

The four-time Olympic and six-time World champion will be competing at the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run on Sunday, 20 May, and was on hand to give the families some training advice ahead of their own challenge.

The Family Challenge was launched to set families the goal of improving their health and wellbeing by training for and taking part in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run events.

Families across the region were asked to let organisers know why they wanted to take part in the challenge which offers training plans, expert led sessions and ongoing advice, to support them in their journey to the start line, whether they were taking on the 10K, half marathon or hunior and mini distance.

Sara Parry and husband Dominic, both aged 42, will take on the 10k, with their children Keira, aged 14, Fraser, aged 11, Erica, aged 10, Heidi, aged 8 and Skylar, aged 3, taking on the junior event.

Sara said: “To meet Mo Farah was absolutely amazing, you could say it was a once in a lifetime experience.

“He is such a positive and motivating person and genuinely kind. The children are still in 'awe' at meeting such a great role model for fitness, family and fun.”

The family have set themselves the challenge in order to help manage Erica's asthma and Fraser's autism.

They regularly take part in organised runs together and hope to improve their distance goals by taking on the 10k and kids' events.

Fraser, who was diagnosed with Aspergers in 2016, said: “Meeting Mo Farah was incredible.

“I certainly did not expect the star to be Mo! I was thinking maybe it would be Jessica Ennis-Hill.

“I really couldn't believe I was meeting Mo Farah.”

His sister Erica added: “I was nervous about meeting a sport star. I had no idea who it would be and I wasn't really sure who it could be.

“I am really happy that I got the opportunity to meet Mo Farah, he was really kind.”