Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Schoolboy’s run for Sadie
A schoolboy is on a mission to run the equivalent of three anda-half marathons this month in memory of a young friend who tragically died aged just nine. Rafi Curtis, 13, is raising money for a foundation created in the name of Sadie Bristow, a tennis prodigy from Chartham who suffered an anaphylactic shock caused by a severe allergy to dairy products.
She died in August 2018, and now a foundation established by her parents in her memory raises awareness of allergies and helps fund research and specialist training.
Langton Boys’ pupil Rafi, who lives in Canterbury city centre, has been inspired by Sadie’s own athleticism - she was also an expert skier - and set himself the target of running 150km this month.
As the Gazette went to press yesterday (Wednesday), he had completed 120km.
“I knew Sadie well before she was abruptly taken from us and like everyone who knew her, I miss her, “he said.
“She always did the impossible. She skied 100km in a day when she was seven and was the UK’S top tennis player for her age. But, most importantly, she was always kind and with a smile.”
He said: “Sadie took everything in her stride, always helped as many people as she could and never had a bad word for anyone.
“She was a great singer and actress too, - we did a small film together - and she was great fun to work with.
“I remember her coming over to us and playing and laughing our heads off.
“It’s that laughter that I miss, but it’s always there in my head. Rafi has set up a charity page and is running up to eight miles every day, except Sundays. His target of £200 was smashed by supporters by day two and the fundraising has now more than doubled that sum, to £460. “I’m not really a runner so it’s very hard, but Sadie always pushed herself and I’m doing it in her memory,” he said. Donate at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/rafirunsforsadie.