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London Marathon success for Oxfordshire couple - 15/04/08

Nicky Salomé-Bentley (52) and husband Simon (59) from Leafield, Witney, both successfully completed the Flora London Marathon on Sunday (13 April), raising £4,000 for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

The couple became aware of the charity’s work after their niece Erica (now 20) was diagnosed with a life threatening and incurable liver disease as a baby.  Erica, who lives in Cornwall, went on to undergo a life saving liver transplant when she was 11 and is now dong well with daily medication to prevent rejection.

Simon, who was running for the first time, crossed the finish line in a time of 5 hours and 31 minutes. Nicky, who completed the race in 2004, finished the race in 6 hours and 25 minutes after running with a friend all the way.  The couple celebrated their success with Erica and her family who also attended a post-race reception held by CLDF.

Nicky, a nurse at the John Radcliffe Hospital, says; “It was a wonderful experience to enter the race together and the atmosphere was amazing.  We hope that our run will enable CLDF to continue its family support programme which provides 24/7 information and advice to families like Erica’s.  The charity also funds vital research which offers hope of better treatments in the future.”

Catherine Arkley, chief executive at Children’s Liver Disease Foundation says; “Congratulations to Nicky and Simon on their fantastic running effort on CLDF’s behalf. Every penny they have raised is urgently needed and will help CLDF to continue its vital family support, education and research programmes.  These offer a lifeline to families of the two children are diagnosed with liver disease every day in the UK through no fault of their own or their parents.”

Anyone wishing to add to the couple’s sponsorship total can easily donate online at www.justgiving.com/salome-leafield or www.justgiving.com/simon-leafield

For more information on CLDF’s work and running the 2009 London marathon for CLDF visit www.childliverdisease.org or call 0121 212 3839.

Ends

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

Notes 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