A DEVOTED husband will lead a team in the Great South Run as a tribute to his wife who can no longer take part because of a debilitating illness.

Running enthusiast Ally Rutter, of Castle Lane, Bournemouth, has completed seven London Marathons and two Bupa Great South Runs.

But she has been forced to hang up her running shoes after being diagnosed with ME and fibromyalgia, a long-term condition which causes pain throughout the body.

Ally, 49, can no longer run with her husband Mark, 50, and their friends in their Sunday club called Rutter’s Runagades, so the team have decided to tackle the 10-mile course on Sunday, October 26 in her honour.

Mark, who has been married to Ally for 28 years, said: “Ally loved her running but can no longer do it anymore which has been tough on her.

“She started training for the London Marathon last year and was finding it tough to breathe.

“After completing it, it takes most people two or three weeks to fully recover, but her body was just not getting over it. That’s when she went to the doctors and found out she had ME and fibromyalgia. It means her muscles are left in too much pain if she does long-distance running again.

“Six of us have had T-shirts made up with a picture of Ally on the front and running for Ally on the back and she will be coming to Portsmouth to cheer us on.

“We’ve done plenty of running events in the past but this one is definitely for Ally.”

Enter the Great South Run at greatrun.org