Nikita Ellithorn
Nikita's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy UK
Story
So here we are again ... Most of you visiting this page will know I ran the London Marathon in April which as I write this was just 2 weeks ago for the charity In memory of my mum. I raised over seven thousand pounds! This was a huge challenge for me as I had never ran previously so was a couch to marathon in just 11months.
Since losing my mum in September 2017 my life just hasn’t been the same. No words can stress enough how much I miss her and how each day feels harder and harder.
I really wish i had fundraised for the charity a-lot sooner, my mum obviously supported the charity in her own way, she entered their charity lottery but its not something i ever thought of doing till after she passed away.
I suppose growing up she always made us feel her condition wasn't as serious as it was, she did struggle with certain things but had her own ways of doing these things. She would struggle getting up off the floor but we just got used to how she got about these things so it was normal to us. When i told people my mum and sister had Muscular Dystrophy i used to say it was a mild form as i would read about Duchenne and other forms and think how lucky they was to ‘just have FSHD’.
My mum had a few other health problems like COPD but we was not expecting her to even get poorly let alone pass away. It was devastating in the hospital when the doctors were explaining the treatments they would normally do but being told that due to her muscle wasting condition they couldn't. She was just 51 years old and those few days in hospital will never leave me!
Putting on a brave face everyday is draining but I realised in my training for London that running gave me something positive to focus on, not only all the training but the fundraising too, it really helped me get through the bad days and i knew as I was coming to the end of my training that my mental health would suffer, so I decided I would continue the running (the saying I’ve not come this far to only get this far sprang to mind) - Ive worked so hard in training it would be a waste to just give it up and obviously want to keep raising money for MD so I’ve agreed to run the Great North Run on 8th September in Newcastle to try and raise them even more well needed money.
My focus is always going to be remembering my mum and raising money in her memory, however what she wanted more in life was a cure for our sister Alannah and I know she will want me to continue this for her.
Alannah is my biggest inspiration, her health had deteriorated in the past year which was difficult for us all, watching her suffer and not being able to help is heartbreaking. Life can be so cruel at times and it reminded me again not to take life for granted. She is doing amazing now and has overcome so much, I am so proud to call her not just my sister but my friend!!
Thank you for reading my story, if you can please donate (any amount is truly appreciated) Please also share my story and give me positive support too, I cant do this without the kind people like you and together one day this could help find the cure!!
x x x x
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for the 70,000 people living with muscle-wasting conditions in the UK. We bring together people affected by more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting condition.
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for the 70,000 people living with muscle-wasting conditions in the UK. We bring together people affected by more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions.
Since losing my mum in September 2017 my life just hasn’t been the same. No words can stress enough how much I miss her and how each day feels harder and harder.
I really wish i had fundraised for the charity a-lot sooner, my mum obviously supported the charity in her own way, she entered their charity lottery but its not something i ever thought of doing till after she passed away.
I suppose growing up she always made us feel her condition wasn't as serious as it was, she did struggle with certain things but had her own ways of doing these things. She would struggle getting up off the floor but we just got used to how she got about these things so it was normal to us. When i told people my mum and sister had Muscular Dystrophy i used to say it was a mild form as i would read about Duchenne and other forms and think how lucky they was to ‘just have FSHD’.
My mum had a few other health problems like COPD but we was not expecting her to even get poorly let alone pass away. It was devastating in the hospital when the doctors were explaining the treatments they would normally do but being told that due to her muscle wasting condition they couldn't. She was just 51 years old and those few days in hospital will never leave me!
Putting on a brave face everyday is draining but I realised in my training for London that running gave me something positive to focus on, not only all the training but the fundraising too, it really helped me get through the bad days and i knew as I was coming to the end of my training that my mental health would suffer, so I decided I would continue the running (the saying I’ve not come this far to only get this far sprang to mind) - Ive worked so hard in training it would be a waste to just give it up and obviously want to keep raising money for MD so I’ve agreed to run the Great North Run on 8th September in Newcastle to try and raise them even more well needed money.
My focus is always going to be remembering my mum and raising money in her memory, however what she wanted more in life was a cure for our sister Alannah and I know she will want me to continue this for her.
Alannah is my biggest inspiration, her health had deteriorated in the past year which was difficult for us all, watching her suffer and not being able to help is heartbreaking. Life can be so cruel at times and it reminded me again not to take life for granted. She is doing amazing now and has overcome so much, I am so proud to call her not just my sister but my friend!!
Thank you for reading my story, if you can please donate (any amount is truly appreciated) Please also share my story and give me positive support too, I cant do this without the kind people like you and together one day this could help find the cure!!
x x x x
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for the 70,000 people living with muscle-wasting conditions in the UK. We bring together people affected by more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting condition.
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for the 70,000 people living with muscle-wasting conditions in the UK. We bring together people affected by more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions.
