I have decided to take up the challenge of running my first Half Marathon and this is why;

At Christmas in 2012 my cousin Emily’s daughter Cindy was taken suddenly ill. She was rushed to a specialist children’s hospital, The Freeman in Newcastle, 150 miles from home. She was on life support, in intensive care, with heart failure. She was then quickly put on the heart transplant list and Emily, her partner Nick and daughter Cleo left their home, friends, jobs and school behind facing the prospect of many months in Newcastle. 

Tragically Cindy died, in February 2013, aged just 10 months. Cindy was eventually diagnosed with Mitochondrial Trifunctional Protein Deficiency which meant that her heart became unable to function without life support. 

During their time at the hospital they met many other families who also had to leave their lives behind to be with their seriously ill child. The foundation was set up in Cindy’s memory, with the aim of providing financial help to families who found themselves in a similar situation.They award small grants to help with things like; travel to and from the hospital, accommodation costs, daily living costs, taking time off work etc.

In the two years it has been going grants have been given to 100 families experiencing financial hardship while enduring the emotional trauma of having a seriously ill child.

These grants are in huge demand and anything you can give would help a family in need.

Please give what you can.

Please share because not only could you inspire people to support us in this challenge, but spreading the word means that more people know of the amazing things that The Cindy Appleyard Foundation are doing and the news might even reach a family in need.

Thank you xx

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