Published on: 20/04/18
The 2018 London Marathon, which takes place on 23 April, will see approximately 80 people running for The Children’s Trust, the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury.
Parents of children who’ve had a brain injury, friends and staff are running in the team, as well as teams from Kia, Phase Eight and Great Outdoor Fitness.
Explaining her reason for running, employee Ruth Moys, a specialist occupational therapist, said: “We support children and their families through rehabilitation following a devastating and life changing brain injury. Each one of them go through so much, so many challenges, and they are so brave.
“Running the London Marathon is a comparatively small challenge and I am honoured to do it in support of such amazing children and families.”
The 2018 marathon is Laura Treadaway’s sixth London Marathon. Laura is a corporate development manager at The Children’s Trust and speaking about her marathon experience she said:
“The start line is a place where your feelings really start to run high, the sea of charity t-shirts that surround you are testament to the fact that although people run the marathon for a personal goal the majority of people are running it for someone else.
“The messages are often written clearly on their t-shirts and you can’t help but be overcome with emotion when you realise that the person standing in front of you is running in memory of their child or parent.
“One year I was lucky enough to train and run the marathon with a mother of a boy who had had rehabilitation at The Children’s Trust. It occurred to me then that the marathon can be a much needed positive goal.”
Dad, Richard Walker, was inspired to run after his daughter Connie, now aged 9, received brain injury rehabilitation in 2016.
Connie had tried to leap frog over a traffic bollard which then collapsed, leaving her with a fractured skull and swelling on the brain. Connie had to undergo emergency neurosurgery and was given a 50% chance of survival. She was dubbed a walking miracle by her surgeon and after several months in hospital was moved to The Children’s Trust for intensive rehabilitation.
Dad Richard said: “Connie has come a long way and still faces challenges with her ‘hidden disability’ so still has a long way to go. We are so proud of everything she has achieved and I can’t wait to see her with my family and friends cheering on from the side-lines on Sunday.”
Another runner is Ollie Shipman, whose sister has worked at the charity for 11 years. Ollie chose The Children's Trust due to the work it does with children and their families.
