RUNNER’S AMBITION
50 marathons in a year for charity
A mum is bidding to run a lung busting 50 marathons in a year to raise money for the hospital that saved her son’s life.
Michaela Owen, from Holyhead, suffered complications before giving birth to her boy Clayton 10 years ago and was devastated when her son did not breathe for four minutes after delivery.
He was rushed to Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Special Care Baby Unit where thanks to the hard work of staff, Clayton made a recovery.
Now the 28-year-old mum is showing her gratitude to hospital staff by running around 1,300 miles to raise funds to buy vital equipment for the unit too.
She is already nearly half-way to her goal with 23 marathons in the bag so far.
And when the going gets tough the thought of those agonising moments after Clayton was born drive her on.
Michaela said: “Four minutes may not seem like a long time, but that is how much time passed before my son took his first breath.
“I had Group B strep which was a bacterial infection in my intestine and it was only detected during the last couple of hours of labour and this affected my son.
“With the help of Ysbyty Gwynedd’s hard working team Clayton pulled through and I am able to enjoy watching him grow and change into a young man which is priceless.
“He spent a week in the SCBU, the hardest week of my life.”
Michaela has 27 marathons to complete and she says she is aiming to run two a week from now until the end of the year.
The gruelling schedule was forced upon her after she had to take a month out after pulling a muscle following a chest infection.
Michaela, who lives with Clayton, her partner Andrew Edwards, and two daughters, Chanelle, 8, and Cora, 4, added: “I decided to commit to the challenge in late January to run all these marathons in my spare time in 2016.
“This may not sound like many to some who know Eddie Izzard can do consecutive marathons and somehow without injury.
“But I am fitting it all in around working nights and my three young children, with no team of aid or support if I’m having an off day or week.
“The fire in my belly remains lit knowing we can all make a difference no matter how big or small.
“So although the end of the year is nearing and I am not even halfway through my marathon challenge.
“I am determined to get as near to 50 marathons as I can.”