Michael Woolley from Chelmsford is looking forward to running the London Marathon with his cousin, Kristina Read, this Sunday. While both have run marathons before, this one will be particularly special as they are raising funds for the British Liver Trust, a charity which means a great deal to their family.
“It’s just over a year since we lost Andrew, Michael’s brother and my cousin, just days before his 45th birthday,” explains Kristina 47, a personal trainer who lives in Basildon. “He was born with Alagille syndrome, a rare genetic condition which led to him having a liver transplant at just eight years old. He went on to become one of the longest surviving liver transplant patients, which is something that will always make us incredibly proud.
“Life was never straightforward for Andrew, and he faced more than most, but he just got on with it. He showed incredible strength and never let anything get him down, he just had a quiet resilience about him that I’ll always admire. We all grew up together, so we were very close and we all miss him. Running 26.2 miles feels small compared to what Andrew endured, but it’s our way of doing something positive in his memory. By raising money for the British Liver Trust, we’ll be helping other families who live with liver disease and supporting vital research and we know that’s what Andrew would want.”
“I’ve never done the London Marathon before and am excited to soak up the atmosphere which everyone talks about,” says Michael, 42. “I’m doing this for my brother which will be emotional but I know he will be there with me every step of the way. Having all our family and friends there to support us will make it a very special day and we both just want to do him proud.”
Dan Painter, Public Fundraising Manager at British Liver Trust commented: “As a charity, we are leading the fight against liver disease and liver cancer. We reach over two million people each year; providing information and support to patients and families and providing vital advice to help people improve their liver health. But there is still so much to be done. We’re delighted that Michael and Kristina are taking on the London Marathon in Andrew’s memory. What a wonderful tribute to him. I’m sure the day will prove a truly memorable experience – we’ll be there to cheer them on!”
You can support Michael at Michael Woolley is fundraising for British Liver Trust
You can support Kristina at British Liver Trust: Kristina’s page.
