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2006 April 5 - Liver disease woman to take part in Great Ireland run for children's charity

An Abergavenny woman who was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease as a baby is to run the Great Ireland Run on 9th April to raise funds to help children with liver disease.

Kathryn Francis (25) from Wernddu Farm, Ross Road, will be undertaking the six mile run which takes place in Phoenix Park, Dublin to raise funds for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), the only organisation in the UK dedicated to fighting childhood liver disease. 

CLDF offered practical and emotional support to Kathryn’s family when she was diagnosed with biliary atresia as a baby- a life-threatening disease in which the bile ducts become progressively blocked leading to irreversible liver damage.  

Kathryn, who works part time with children with special educational needs and is studying youth and community education at the University of Wales, Cardiff, underwent a corrective operation called a kasai at The Heath Hospital in Cardiff when she was just eight weeks old.  Luckily the operation proved to be a success and Kathryn has since gone from strength to strength.  However there is no cure for the disease and Kathryn continues to take daily medication to control the condition.  She may also require a liver transplant in the future if her condition deteriorates. 

Kathryn says, “Many people are unaware that children can even get liver disease, when in reality two children are diagnosed every day.  There is no cure and many are life-threatening.  Many children diagnosed with the same liver disease as me go on to need a liver transplant, tragically some children also die. 

“I hope that by taking part in the run I can help ensure that families in the future are able to receive the much needed support provided by CLDF, which I know has been a life-line to my family.  It is also so important that CLDF’s vital research programme is able to continue in the hope of one day finding a cure for childhood liver diseases such as biliary atresia.”

It will be the first time Kathryn has undertaken such a physical challenge and she been training hard for the race, running up to four times a week.  Kathryn adds, “I thought that now I’ve reached quarter of a century I needed to set a challenge for myself!  Combining a running challenge and raising funds for CLDF seemed a great idea.  I am really looking forward to taking part in the race, it should be a great day.”

Kathryn aims to complete the run in under 50 minutes and hopes to raise over £500 for the charity.

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, adds, “Kathryn has done tremendously well and is so full of vitality and enthusiasm.  But we mustn’t forget that she will never be out of the woods.  Daily she lives with the uncertainty of not knowing what the next day will bring. Her life is one in which she will always have to be medically monitored.  Kathryn and young people like her need our on-going commitment to fighting childhood liver disease.  There are over 100 different liver diseases which affect children.  We desperately need more funds to continue our vital research, education and support programmes which help to provide a brighter future for them and their families.  We are extremely grateful to Kathryn for her support.  Maybe through her efforts we might one day know the cause of childhood liver diseases such biliary atresia.  We wish her every success on the day.” 

Anyone wishing to offer support can make a pledge online at http://www.justgiving.com/tassabellaor can contact Kathryn on 01873 859 862.

For further information on the work of the Foundation, please visit www.childliverdisease.org or call 0121 212 3839.

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For further information on this story please contact: 
Rachel Markham, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation,
Tel: 0121 212 6012, e-mail: communications@childliverdisease.org

Note to editors:
The Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is a unique national charity that fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the general public. Formed in 1980, it provides professional, emotional support to families affected and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.

Childhood liver disease – the facts
• More children in the UK are currently diagnosed with a liver disease than childhood leukaemia
• At least two children are diagnosed with a liver disease every day in the UK
• Most childhood liver diseases are life threatening; all mean a lifetime of care
• There are over 100 different liver diseases that can affect babies, children or young people
• For most childhood liver diseases the cause is unknown
• Liver disease has no cure
• CLDF is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to stamping out childhood liver disease