Runner's first marathon for heart charity

A member of a local running club is using her first ever marathon to raise funds to provide free heart screenings for young people in Ealing.

Christine Elliott, who runs with the Ealing Eagles, doesn't usually ask for sponsorship but as this is her first marathon so she wants to raise money for the Tom Clabburn Memorial Fund, run by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

She said: ''The reason I know about CRY is because a former BBC colleague, Paul Clabburn, and his wife Claire Prosser, lost their son Tom, to an undiagnosed heart condition aged just 14. I can't begin to imagine what that is like but I find it shocking that 12 youngsters lose their lives this way each week.

“A first marathon is special and I always knew I would want to run for CRY if I did decide to take the plunge. CRY is a brilliant charity which arranges free heart screening for young people, supports families and raises awareness that heart problems don't only affect older people. So when I signed up to the Greater Manchester Marathon on 6 April I pledged to fundraise for the charity."

Christine added: “I know the final 6.2 miles will be very tough as everyone says 20 miles is just half way in a marathon, however the thought that I am raising money for Tom’s fund will really spur me on.

“My training has gone well and I even enjoyed a 20 mile run the other week - something which I never thought I would hear myself say, although I do have some colourful toenails to show for it!”

Tom’s father, Paul, said: “We really appreciate Christine taking on this challenge, it’s because of people like her that Tom’s fund has been able to hold screenings each year. We wish Christine good luck and a good time on the day.”

Ealing schoolboy Tom, who died in 2007, was one of the 12 young people aged 14-35 that CRY say die every week from undiagnosed heart conditions. Tom’s fund, http://tomclabburnfund.co.uk/ has raised more than £75,000 since 2008 and held free heart screenings in Ealing and west London every year since 2009.

This year’s screenings will be held in November.
If you would like to support Christine, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/MissyJelliott/

25th March 2014