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Cambridge farmer tackles fourteeth London Marathon - 14/03/08

A 63 year old tenant farmer from Huntingdon whose daughter died of acute liver failure five years ago is to run the Flora London marathon for the fourteenth time on Sunday 13 April to help children with life threatening liver disease.

Sandra Butler, who lives in Warboys, is running in aid of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), a unique national organisation dedicated to fighting all liver diseases of childhood. 

Sandra’s daughter Raelene died suddenly in 2002 at the age of 25 of acute liver failure caused by a rare condition called Acute Budd Chiari Syndrome (BCS) which occurs when there is an obstruction of the hepatic veins.

Sandra completed the 26.2 mile course for CLDF in 2006 after learning of the charity’s work supporting families of the two children diagnosed with liver disease each day in the UK.  Sandra hopes her 2008 run will raise £2,000 for the charity, which also funds research and helps to educate healthcare professionals.

Sandra says: “After Raelene died I became aware that thousands of babies, children and young people are affected by liver disease through no fault of their own or their parents.  I also learnt of CLDF’s vital work supporting these families and how the charity’s research programme gives hope for the future as many of the conditions are currently incurable.  I wanted to do something to help.”

Sandra entered her first London marathon in 1992 and achieved her best time – 4 hrs 23 mins 10 seconds, in 1994.  She hopes to finish her fourteenth race in under five hours. 

Sandra adds: “After completing the race thirteen times I should be an expert but it certainly never gets any easier.  Running for CLDF is a great incentive to get round and I hope local people will offer support for this fantastic charity.” 

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation adds: “The money Sandra and her supporters raise will help make a huge difference to thousands of families affected by childhood liver disease. To these families CLDF is a lifeline, enabling them to have 24/7 access to information and support whenever they need it.  However these services can only continue with public support and every penny really does make a difference.”

Anyone wishing to offer support can call Sandra on 01354 677372.

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

Jill Priest, Professional Communications,
Tel: 01886 822077 or 07940 534505, email: jill@profcomms.co.uk

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