Laura Widdowson of Medical Accident Group team completed the Couch to 5k challenge with her son Owen, raising a total of £700 for the George Coller Memorial Fund – a local charity supporting children with asthma.
The cause is very close to home for Laura and Owen, who had to be hospitalised with a severe asthma attack when he was just two years old.
The pair kicked off the challenge on World Asthma Day, 4 May, from week one running a minute a time with 90 seconds’ break, to week eight, running non-stop for 28 minutes. After several spells of hot weather – something that affects Owen quite easily – they decided to take a break until the air cooled down.
They were then faced with quite a scare after Owen caught Covid at the end of August; having made a full recovery, the pair picked things back up at the end of September to complete the challenge once and for all.
Finishing their final 5k run in 42 minutes, Laura said: “I am so relieved to have got to the end of the challenge, especially as we endured several bumps along the way. We have had to be really sensible and careful throughout the training and there have been many times where Owen could have quite easily given up, but he’s been an absolute trooper.”
“Thank you so much to everyone who has supported not only our journey but, more importantly, the local charity we are doing this for. I am certainly ready to relax now – as for Owen, I think he could go again!”
The George Coller Memorial Fund was set up to help prevent unnecessary deaths from childhood asthma after the charity’s chairman, Kim Douglas, tragically lost her three-year-old son to the condition. Over its 20-year history the charity has, amongst other things, campaigned for emergency inhalers to be present in schools nationwide. It has also funded the placement of a number of specialist asthma nurses in local hospitals.
Speaking about Laura and Owen’s fundraiser, Kim said: “I am so very grateful to you both; fundraising has not been easy during the last couple of years with the pandemic and your wonderful hard work and support will help us enormously to keep our asthma nurses in post during these difficult times”.
Learn more about our work with the George Coller Memorial Fund here.