LONG distance runner Denise Wakefield is taking in part in one of the biggest events of her life -- even though she will be jogging just 500 metres!

Mother-of-two Denise Wakefield, aged 48, has been chosen to carry the Queen's Jubilee baton on part of its route to the Commonwealth Games next month.

It all came as a great surprise to Denise, who had no idea anyone had nominated her for the honour until this month.

"I had just come back from a 10-mile run and found out," said Denise, who runs with Sale Harriers and is a former member of Bolton Harriers.

Friends from Bury Athletic Club had written to officials suggesting Denise, of Hough Fold Way, Harwood, be chosen for the job because of the way she cares for 20-year-old son Thomas, who is confined to a wheelchair with a mystery degenerative illness after contracting measles when he was six.

Denise also helps run a playgroup for the Catholic Children's Rescue Society and goes running every day.

"I had not even thought about the baton, even though we have tickets for all the athletics events," said Denise. "It is a great honour."

Denise, who has been running competitively for 36 years, will carry the baton through part of Lancaster on July 22 and will be cheered on by husband Mike and 17-year-old daughter Laura.

So far, the baton has travelled 60,000 miles, having started at Buckingham Palace on March 11 and travelled through Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, Australasia, Asia and Europe, before arriving in Belfast for the UK leg.

England World Cup hero Geoff Hurst became the latest sporting personality to carry the baton yesterday as he ran through Gloucester.

The baton -- which monitors the heart beat of every carrier -- will be handed to the Queen at the Games' opening ceremony in Manchester.