Perkins Great Eastern Run – Anna’s Hope 5km Fun Run

A year ago my nephew and sister ran in the 2015 Great Northern Run in the Anna’s hope 5km fun run. Leo managed to run around the course in just under an hour! He is 10 years old, and while just entering and finishing the run is an achievement in itself, he has Cerebral Palsy. When he was first diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy my sister was told he would highly unlikely walk independently. He would be wheelchair dependant and he probably won’t toilet train. Leo would need constant physiotherapy to help strengthen his muscles and this would be for forever. 5 years ago Leo had an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) and with a lot of physiotherapy he started to walk unaided. So completing the 5k fun run was such an achievement. I had mentioned to my sister that the boys and I would run with them next year.

2016 Anna’s Hope fun run

A year goes by a lot quicker than I remember because yesterday we took part in the run. Those that know me know that I am the least energetic person in the world. The boys and I were part of “Team Leo” there was 16 of us in total.

We started well I ran past the start line (me run! ha!) but I had to start walking. Everyone had passed us and the boys wanted to run. I felt so bad and I wished that I had done some training. My brother (had gone back to the start) came to us at the 2km point and offered to take the boys with him. They ran ahead whilst I walked with my niece Ellie. At the beginning she got a little lost, and missed the start with us, so my brother had gone back to the start to get her and to then find us.

Ellie doesn’t like sports so she found it so hard. She really didn’t want to continue and wanted to stop. We encouraged each other to continue. She did so well and I am so proud of her. She set out to complete the fun run and she did it!

In all honesty I was gutted I wasn’t with the boys when they crossed the line. Ellie and myself who were about 10 places from  last came in just over an hour on the gun time. (our chip times was just under an hour about 58minutes)

But I did it! Well Jack, Oliver and myself did it! we raised £95 of our £100 target to go to Leo to help with buying his new splints (which he wears to help support his legs).