A WALK IN THE STARK
iF i had half of Ava Stark’s energy then running the edinburgh half-marathon would be a breeze. Sadly, I’m 21 years older than she is and the training is taking its toll. Five-year-old Ava was around yesterday to put me through my paces at Lochore Meadows in Fife. As she jumped out of the car, she said: “I’m going to beat you!” And despite my best efforts, she did, during every sprint on the grass. Her granny Agnes thought it might be fun to involve Ava’s best friend Lola the labrador, who was adopted to mark her one-year post-transplant anniversary. But that idea was shortlived as it covered us with mud and dragged me around the park.
Ava’s can-do attitude continued as we took part in a bit of cross training in the playpark and she flung herself down a steep slide without the slightest hesitation. It’s such a change from when she was diagnosed with inherited bone marrow failure when she was three years old. And despite the treatment, which involved chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsies and more blood tests than anyone can count, she did it all with a smile on her face. After first meeting Ava and her family, from Lochgelly, nearly two years ago, I knew she was special. That grin warmed my heart and I knew I had made a friend for life. I sobbed after carrying out the first interview with her mum Marie and was so moved by the family’s determination not to give up hope. A matching bone marrow donor had been found by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan but had pulled out at the last minute. The Record campaign was launched and a second donor was found but they too dropped out. Her family’s ability to not give up even after the hardest of blows made me more determined than ever that we would keep campaigning until Ava’s hero was found.
That happened shortly afterwards, as 70,000 people from across the UK signed up to the bone marrow register to help people like Ava.
She had her transplant in December 2016 and is going from strength to strength, with the hope of starting primary school this year.
Inspired by her bravery, I wanted to help Anthony Nolan, so I signed up for my first ever half-marathon.
When I cross that finish line on May 27, she’ll be there cheering me on. ● IF you would like to sponsor Sarah, visit www. justgiving.com/ fundraising/ sarahvesty2