Ella goes on run to give charity a birthday gift
AN inspirational little girl who has undergone 40 operations is to celebrate her 10th birthday in style - by running a total of 10km for charity.
Over the next 12 months, Ella Chadwick will take part in junior charity runs across the country in aid of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, which has cared for her since she was a baby.
The brave youngster was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, a rare illness which causes kidney failure.
She was forced to have both of her kidneys removed and up until she received a life-saving transplant from her grandma in 2014 faced weekly hospital trips for dialysis.
Between now and September 2018 Ella, of Whitworth, Rochdale, aims to complete the Glasgow, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Bristol and Manchester junior runs.
She was inspired to take up the challenge after taking part in the junior event during the Great Manchester Run in May - and then watching her mum Karen Hughes complete the 10km course.
Karen, 36, said: “I absolutely loved taking part in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run this year and Ella was so happy when she saw me cross the finish line.
“She loves taking part in the running events and she said to me ‘I want to run 10k like you’.”
“I knew that 10k was a long distance for me, so I suggested that she do 10k in mini runs as I know how much she enjoys it.
“She was over the moon with the idea and thought it would be extra special to mark her 10th birthday with a year of challenges.
“It’s hard to put into words what the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital have done for us. They have been Ella’s lifeline since she was born and she will need them when she is older.
“A year of fundraising for them is the perfect way to celebrate 10 years of her being a patient too.”
Ella’s fundraising will kick off next weekend, when she tackles the 1.5k mini course on in Newcastle.
Jessica Ruth, events manager at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital charity, said: “Ella is one of our most dedicated supporters so we’re delighted that she will be fundraising for us once again.
“Everyone who meets Ella is blown away by her positivity and courage and after all the hurdles she’s faced it is inspirational how determined she is to give back to the hospital.
“Ella has chosen the perfect challenge to mark both her birthday and her 10 years of treatment and we will all be supporting her every step of the way.”
For more information about the Simplyhealth Junior and Mini Great North Run, visit Greatrun.org/North.