#24Hrs4Charli is back for 2023! After a huge response following Will and Tom’s challenge last year we wanted to continue our #24hrs4Charli challenge however this year do a 24hr relay. This allows all members of the public to participate whether you want to run, walk, or cycle, the choice is yours!! 

A 3 hour time slot has been allocated as a memorial slot where we have invited lots of families, who have also lost loved ones, to come together, show our support and to continue their memory. 

The same as last year #24hrs4Charli is raising money raise money for the Better Life Appeal. Stepping off at 0900 hrs on 4 Nov 23 and finishing by completing the official RB10K on 5 Nov 23.

With the previous success of #RunForCharli this year our goal is to make #24Hrs4Charli bigger than ever with more people in our t-shirts than ever before.

Charli's Story:

At the age of 2, Charli was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Having been diagnosed with this condition, it affected every part of her life. However, Charli never allowed her condition to define her. Charli was 3 years old when I was born and I have always known her to have CF but this did not stop her living life to the full. Charli to me has always been my big cousin as well as a happy, strong, beautiful, funny, and kind person who would always put others first despite how much physiotherapy and medication she needed every day. 

Charli's condition deteriorated in 2015 and she was thrown a lifeline by being able to have a double lung transplant. This was a great success due to the fantastic staff in Harefield Hospital and Llandough Hospital. When Charli was discharged from hospital she had a new lease of life and lived life to the full. Charli used to tell me how she couldn't believe how clear she can breath now. Charli was able to get a job at my uncle Russell's pub (Charli's dad) and even started running and going to the gym. She would often be known to crawl into the house in the early hours of the morning after partying all night hahaha! She really knew how to live her life to the full!

November 2016 saw a rapid change in Charli's condition resulting in emergency treatment from Princess of Wales Hospital, Llandough Hospital, and Harefield Hospital. Charli's dad (Russell) never left her side from that day until she was discharged from hospital in the new year. It was touch and go and we all thought we were going to lose her, but her strength pulled her through. Charli always loved to be the centre of attention and decided to scare us again in March 2017 but again her strength and stubbornness pulled her through. We gave her a good telling off when she was well and she had a good laugh at that! 

As a family we all thought the scares were over with and that she would have a new lung transplant. However her health deteriorated and the doctors felt she was too weak to cope with the surgery. Charli showed her strength by posting updates on her Facebook page and was very open and honest about her prognosis. 

Charli lost her fight on the 13th of October 2017 at 17:35pm after a long and courageous battle.

The Charity:

The Better Life Appeal is part of the Cardiff and Vale Health Charity, registered charity number 1056544.

The Better Life Appeal for the All Wales Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre was established in 2007 by the CF Service. Initially, it was intended to provide all patients within the Adult CF Centre with additional, often expensive equipment not available on the NHS. In addition, as patient numbers continued to increase it was felt the appeal would provide additional facilities to enhance existing patient care and enable expansion of the centre to meet the needs of our growing CF patient population.