*Welcome to the CLDF Media Room* | Press Releases | Archived Press Releases | 2006 August 21 - Parents inspired to tackle Great Scottish Run for children?s charity close to their

2006 August 21 - Parents inspired to tackle Great Scottish Run for children?s charity close to their

A couple from Robroyston whose daughter was diagnosed with a life threatening liver disease last year will be taking part in the Great Scottish Run on Sunday 3rd September to raise funds for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

Barry and Sharon Kinnon are taking part in the 10K race to raise funds for CLDF, the only  organisation in the UK dedicated to fighting childhood liver disease.  The charity provided emotional and practical support when their twelve year daughter, Steffi, was diagnosed with auto-immune liver disease in December 2005.

Autoimmune liver disease is an incurable condition caused when the body’s immune system malfunctions and attacks part of itself, in this case, the liver.  The symptoms vary greatly from child to child; some are relatively well and active whilst others can be very ill and present with liver failure.

Steffi was diagnosed when she became jaundiced after undergoing emergency surgery when she had her tonsils removed and began to haemorrhage. Blood tests revealed there was a problem with her liver and a liver biopsy confirmed the disease. She will require medication for life to help control the condition. 

Now that Steffi’s condition is being managed, the couple are keen to give something back to the charity for the help they have received since her diagnosis.

Barry says, “Few people are aware that two children like Steffi are diagnosed with a liver disease every day in the UK so there are thousands of families needing support. In addition to CLDF’s support programmes, the charity also funds pioneering research which gives families like ours hope for the future. We wanted to get fit and raise funds for CLDF so when we saw the run advertised it seemed like the perfect solution. We’ve been running around Hogganfield loch three times a week in preparation and we hope to finish in under 70 minutes.”

Sharon adds, “Planning this fundraising activity has given us a positive goal during some of the really hard times.  It was been an extremely emotional and difficult year and CLDF have been a lifeline to us.  This is our way of saying thank you for their tremendous support and we know it will be tough, but with Steffi there to cheer us on we are sure we will complete the race. It would be great if we could raise £1,000 for CLDF.”

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, adds, “We thank Barry and Sharon for their fundraising efforts on our behalf and wish them every success on the day. Not many people realise that more children are diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease than childhood leukaemia and there are currently no cures, just a lifetime of care ahead. There are over 100 different liver diseases which can affect any child of any age and we desperately need public support to enable us to continue and enhance our support, education and research programmes.”

The Great Scottish Run includes 10k, half marathon and junior races.  Runners pass some of Glasgow’s most famous attractions, running over the Kingston Bridge, before finishing in Glasgow Green.

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:
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

Great Scottish Run
For more information please visit www.runglasgow.org