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*Welcome to the CLDF Media Room* | Press Releases | Archived Press Releases | 2006 April 5 - Woman inspired to run London marathon for children with liver disease
2006 April 5 - Woman inspired to run London marathon for children with liver disease
An East Sheen woman will be running the Flora London marathon on 23rd April in aid of the charity which provided vital support when her cousin was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease.
Lizzy Risk (24) will be undertaking the famous 26.2 mile run in aid of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), the only organisation in the UK dedicated to fighting childhood liver disease.
The charity offered practical and emotional support to her family when, as a baby, her cousin was diagnosed with biliary atresia – a liver disease in which the bile ducts become progressively blocked leading to irreversible liver damage. A corrective operation called a ‘kasai’ was performed at just a few weeks old and luckily this was successful. However, a transplant may still be required in the future.
Lizzy, an events organiser, says, “CLDF were a real life-line to my family through the really difficult times, providing much needed information and support, and I really wanted to give something back. I’ve heard that running the London Marathon is one of the most rewarding things you can do and such an amazing challenge and I thought it was the ideal way to raise funds.“
It will be Elizabeth’s first marathon run and she has been training hard in order to complete the race in her target time of four hours.
“I am running four times a week and can’t wait for the big day to arrive. It’s going to be hard but knowing that I will be helping CLDF to offer support to more families in the future and to continue to fund vital research which one day might find a cure is a great incentive to be successful on the day.”
Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, adds, “There are over 100 different liver diseases which affect children. Most are life-threatening, all mean a lifetime of care. We desperately need more funds to continue our vital research, education and support programmes which help to provide a brighter future for children and their families. We are extremely grateful to Lizzy for undertaking this huge challenge on CLDF’s behalf. We wish her every success on the day.”
Lizzy hopes to raise £1800 for CLDF. Anyone wishing to offer support can call 07917 453 755.
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
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