An award winning Aberdeen geneticist pulled on her running shoes to raise cash for the medical charity that has been the major funder of her work on the causes of clubfoot.
Zosia Miedzybrodzka's efforts have raised more than £600 for Sparks which ploughs money into pioneering research to help babies and children.
The University of Aberdeen Senior Lecturer in Clinical Genetics – who was last year given an Excellence in Medical Research award by Sparks for her groundbreaking research into the causes of clubfoot - ran the Garioch 10K which took place in Inverurie on Sunday.
It was Dr Miedzybrodzka's first ever sponsored run as she only took up running last year.
She took up the sport with the aim of doing her bit for Sparks after hearing of the endeavours of others at the charity's gala night where she was given her award.
She explained: "At dinner children's TV presenter and marathon runner Floella Benjamin assured me that I could overcome sore knees, and then I heard that the Chief Executive of Sparks was cycling from London to Barcelona to raise funds. I felt I had to do my bit, and it helped me to get fitter too."
Dr Miedzybrodzka completed the 10K in 1hr and 2mins. She added: "Family, friends and colleagues have been incredibly supportive and have given generously."
"All the money I have raised goes to Sparks which is one of the few medical research charities that focuses on children's research. My own research into clubfoot over the last eight would not have been possible without their tremendous support."
Paul Connew, Director of Communications at Sparks, said: "We were thrilled that Zosia decided to run to raise funds for Sparks. It's hard to work out how she found the time to train, given her dedication to her research work.
"As a charity, we're always proud when researchers we fund choose to also take on fundraising challenges the way Zosia has. It goes way beyond the call of duty, but helps raise awareness of the important paediatric research work involved."
"Meanwhile another Sparks-funded doctor, John Anderson, of the Institute of Child Health in London, on Sunday successfully completed his second successive London Marathon for us.
"Zosia is being supported by Sparks in her cutting edge research into clubfoot at Aberdeen, John is involved in pioneering research, funded by Sparks, into neuroblastoma, the biggest cancer killer of the under 5's. Our congratulations go to them both."