Louise Saunders
Louise Saunders's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for DEBRA
Story
Hiya,
5 Years ago i got the bug for the great North Run.. well I am from the Great North so it must be in my Blood!!
Since 2004 I've run the GNR for some great Charities such as Asthama Uk and The Blue Cross.. but this year I've decided to raise money for a Charity very close to my heart.
Meet Brida Elizabeth Heartford; a beautiful, brave little girl, who despite all the love and medical care in the world, had no chance of survival. Brida eventually died on 23rd March 2008, aged 14 months as the result of malnutrition and anaemia, caused by serious external and internal blistering.
Stacey and Damo are my very close friends, and last year on the 5th January 2007, their beautiful little Girl was born with a very rare genetic condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) . There was just a 1 in 17,000 chance for Brida to have been born with EB. She inherited the condition from her parents who were not aware that they were carriers of the EB Gene until little Brida was born with the skin missing from the fingers on both her hands. They had no prior warning that she would be affected. From the day she was born Bridas skin and internal body linings started blister at the slightest knock or rub, causing painful, open wounds. It was confirmed by experts that Brida was suffering with the most severe form, Herlitz Junctional EB.We were told that she was only expected to live for a few months but this brave little girl astounded everyone by making her first birthday, a day when I was able to give her her 1st newcastle Strip!!
Brida's health deteriorated, with sores spreading all over her tiny body and breaking down her internal organs but Stacey and Damo were still able to manage her condition at home; This amazing achievement was made possible with not only the love and care of a remarkable mummy and daddy, but also with the support of a team of specialist EB nurses based out of Great Ormond Street Hospital. DebRA UK fund these wonderful people, who are able to give care to affected families by visiting them in their own homes, and by being on 24 hour call should any advice be needed. Without DeBRA these wonderful people wouldn't be able to give the support that the family needs to get by.
In an attempt to raise awareness of this dreadful condition and to help raise funds for this wonderful charity, I decided run the GNR, the Swindon half and the Chippenham half in the name of Brida and DebRA. This is my way of showing gratitude to DebRA for the care my friends have received, and ensuring that in raising funds to help future sufferers little Brida's life will not have been in vain.