A Woodhurst Avenue resident has completed the London Marathon after suffering a life threatening illness just 18 months prior.
In 2017, Emily Whitbread from Garson suffered a blockage in an artery in her lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism, just a week after she had completed a half marathon for Evelina Children’s Hospital.
Evelina Children’s Hospital is something Emily has held close to heart after how well they looked after and treated her nephew after he had open heart surgery at just one years old.
Emily said: “After suffering a pulmonary embolism, I couldn’t walk very far due to the blood clot in my lung, it meant I couldn’t breathe.
“In October 2018 I was given the all clear and a couple of days later I received my letter telling me I was running the marathon.”
Given only six months to train, Emily completed the London Marathon on Sunday, April 28.
Emily commented: “It was the most amazing, incredibly overwhelming, experience I’ve ever had. This was my first marathon and I couldn’t comprehend scale of it.
“You watch it on the telly and you never think it could be you there taking part. Honestly, if I can do it, anyone can do it. All you need is determination and grit.”
Emily managed to raise £1,800 plus gift aid for Evelina Children’s Hospital from running in the London Marathon and doesn’t plan to stop there.
She has already made plans to take on a 100 kilometre Ultra Marathon during the summer for the same charity and has already entered to complete the 2020 London Marathon.
To find out more about Evelina London’s Children’s Hospital, visit evelinalondon.nhs.uk
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