Colleagues should spare a thought for legal secretary Amanda Donaghue while they’re enjoying themselves at the races this weekend.

Staff are being treated to a day out at Thirsk as part of Macks Solicitors’ 20th birthday celebrations.

But instead of joining them, Amanda, who works in the Wills and Probate department at the firm’s Middlesbrough HQ, will be taking part in not one but two tough runs as she raises funds for a charity close to her heart.

On Saturday, while the rest of the staff are enjoying champagne and seafood in North Yorkshire, she’ll be joined by daughters Carly, 17, and Shannon, 14, for the 5k Colour Run at Sedgefield Racecourse.

The event involves clambering over obstacles while being splattered with paint as they go along.

The following day Amanda and husband Lee will take part in the Middlesbrough 10k, raising funds for the Marfan Trust.

Amanda’s 15-year-old nephew Mason Ibitson has the syndrome, which causes heart and sight problems, as well as affecting his growth.

“I’ve done the last four Middlesbrough 10ks and have run for charities including the Finlay Cooper Fund and Zoe’s Place in the past,” says Amanda, who took up running as part of a stop-smoking programme.

“I decided that if I was going to do it again this year, I’d run for a charity closer to home.

“Mason’s already grown very tall and is on daily medication for heart problems. He’s just had an operation to remove a floating lens on one eye and is having the other done in a few weeks time. Hopefully, that will improve his sight.

“He was going to do the Colour Run with us, but couldn’t because of the operation.

“The 10k will be tough, as I haven’t really done any training, but as long as I finish it, I don’t care.”

Anyone who wants to help Amanda reach her £250 sponsorship target can do so at Macks’ Middlesbrough office.