Bristol Half Marathon

With weeks to go to Bristol Half Marathon, a local mum is calling on runners with places who are looking for a worthy cause to run for the children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.

Emma Morris from Ashton Gate will be among those pounding the streets in September and is keen to encourage others to make a difference to the lives of families, who like her own, have been affected by childhood cancer.

The 28-year-old mother-of-two was spurred into taking part in her first ever half marathon as a way of giving something back to the charity for the level of support her family has received.

Mrs Morris knows from personal experience just how vital the services provided by CLIC Sargent really are.  In March this year her daughter Isobel was diagnosed with a rhabdomyosarcoma in her pancreas when she was just 22 months old.  The condition affects fewer than 60 children each year in the UK and is rare for a child of her age.  In March the youngster had to go major surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital which resulted in parts of her stomach, bowel and pancreas being removed.

 “It was devastating to learn that Isobel had cancer and had to undergo major surgery at such a young age,” said Mrs Morris.  “I don’t know what we would have done without CLIC Sargent who have supported us every step of the way through our journey.  The charity has not only provided us with financial support but we will also be staying in one of CLIC Sargent’s holiday homes, a luxury caravan in Yorkshire. It will be the first time we have been away this year and will give us much-needed quality time together as a family.  I would encourage other runners still searching for a worthy cause to run for CLIC Sargent and raise the much needed funds which will enable the charity to continue support other families facing similar situations.”

This year the charity hopes to have 100 runners and raise a target of £35,000.  That’s enough to secure a new CLIC Sargent holiday home in the UK to offer families a break from the routine of treatment and give them time together away from the hospital ward.

Tamara Downes, Running Events Manager for CLIC Sargent, said: “We are always keen to recruit new runners and we would encourage anyone who has already secured their own place to come forward and run for us too.  It is an incredible motivator to get you across the finishing line when you know all the money you are raising will help provide vital support for the thousands of children and young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK.”

For more information or to register for a CLIC Sargent running place please phone 0845 602 4770 or visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/running

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Notes to Editor:
For any media enquiries please contact Suzanne Palmer, Press Officer, CLIC Sargent on 0117 3148621 or email:  suzanne.palmer@clicsargent.org.uk
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