Sarah from Wickford will be lacing up her running shoes to participate in the Chelmsford Marathon, sponsored by Countryside and L&Q’s flagship development, Beaulieu, on Sunday 13th October to raise funds for local charity Havens Hospices, which runs Little Havens, the children’s hospice for Essex.
Sarah’s daughter, Allani, lives with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation and visits Little Havens with her family for support with her medical needs. Allani and her sister benefit from the sensory room, the hydrotherapy pool and the soft play area.
Sarah said: “Little Havens is such a support network – they welcome all the family to the setting, and the staff have always been there to support us with anything. Allani just loves it.
She continues: “Little Havens is the only support we’ve been offered since Allani’s diagnosis, and we all look forward to attending each week. The smile on Allani’s face says it all. She claps as we walk through the doors and just smiles constantly. I get to have some time to myself to rest and recharge while she plays with the Care Team. During a Day Stay at the hospice, I can go upstairs and have a relaxing bath. This support really makes such a difference and is a lifeline for families like mine.”
Sarah wanted to give back to the charity which provides all its care and support free of charge. This is only possible thanks to the kindness of the community, making donations and giving up time to volunteer.
Sarah said: “I’m certainly not a runner, so the marathon will be a challenge for me – I have collared my brother and sister to run as well for some support. I don’t get a lot of free time to train for something like this with a daughter with complex needs, so there will most likely be a lot of walking. If I complete it within seven hours, I will be happy. It’s for a great cause, and getting over the finish line for Allani and my family is all that counts. Raising money for Havens Hospices is so important to us – I don’t know what I would do without their help, they are a saving grace.”
The Chelmsford Marathon and Half Marathon, sponsored by Countryside and L&Q’s flagship development, Beaulieu, starts and finishes in the city’s Central Park and is a popular fixture in the Essex running calendar, which sees over 1,000 runners each year take part.
The annual event raises vital funds for the Essex-based charity Havens Hospices, which provides specialist care for children and young people living with incurable conditions and supports their families.
Registration is still open for this year’s Chelmsford Marathon and Half event, taking place on Sunday 13th October. Visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/chelmsfordmarathon to sign up.
To support Sarah with a donation, visit her JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Little-havens-for-Allani
Published 30th August 2024
