Welcome to out sponsor page for the Tenzing Hilary Marathon!

This year four runners will take on the ultimate challenge by participating in the world’s highest marathon, the 6^th Tenzing Hillary Marathon in aid of The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Weaving their way up and down appalling Himalayan terrain Stephen, Guy, Barry and Jodie must endure a 12 day trek to reach the start line at Everest Base Camp 17,572ft!  Then on the 29^th May 2008 they begin the second part of the challenge by competing in a 26.2 mile race back down to Namche Bazaar’s finish line!  The challenge is a real test of human endurance due to the altitude the team will be climbing to.  Oxygen content at base camp is just 50% of what it is at sea level making even simple tasks such as rolling over a physical exertion.

For the three guys training is demanding and relentless.  For Jodie the challenge is going to be even harder.  Jodie actually has Cystic Fibrosis.  Not only does she have to reach peak physical condition before the trek, she will have to maintain her health, stick to a specialist diet and keep on top of a demanding treatment regime to ensure she is fit to go.  To add to the complexity she also has diabetes, an added complication of her CF.

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common inherited life threatening disease affecting 1 in every 2,500 births, 1 in every 25 people in the UKis a carrier of the gene.  Each week there are 5 babies born with CF and each week 3 people die because of CF.  The average life expectancy of someone born with CF is just 31yrs.  Fortunately for Jodie her lung problems are relatively mild making this challenge possible, but she will still find this extraordinarily difficult.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is currently funding major research into a gene therapy trial which is yielding encouraging results, in particular, the possibility of preventing lung damage by replacing the faulty gene which causes the disease. The CF Trust is funding a consortium of scientists working in Edinburgh, London and Oxford who have developed a product, which will help switch on the gene to make the lungs work properly. This world leading research will cost £6.5 million during 2008/2009.

Raising £75,000 will be a huge achievement for Jodie and her team and we now ask for your help to bring about the Gene Therapy research needed by so many.  Sponsoring us is easy and should only take a few minutes through this webpage.  The added bonus is the CF Trust automatically reclaims gift aid if you are a UK tax payer, making your donation go that little bit further! 

For more information on our challenge you can visit the following webpage’s:

Jodie, Stephen, Guy and Barry