When Jess first ran the London Marathon 15 years ago, it was to raise funds for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, in return for the information and support she’d received when her little girl, Alice, was diagnosed with biliary atresia. So, it was a very special occasion this year when Alice, now a 24-year-old paediatric nurse, took on the marathon, to raise funds for the same cause! Here is their story.
Jess’ story
Running the London Marathon is such an amazing and rewarding experience, that’s why I have run it twice, initially in 2011 in 5hrs 33mins and the second time in 2015 in 5hrs 15mins. I continue to enter the ballot each year, although if I did get in again, it would probably take me much longer and my body wouldn’t like it much!
I have always wanted my children to have the same experience, the training, the challenge, the sense of achievement and exciting togetherness whilst running with thousands of other people. I was very pleased when Alice started running 5Ks whilst at university, I remember thinking then how beneficial this is for her health and well-being. So, when she said she wanted to run the London Marathon I was so proud and very excited for her. I was a little anxious throughout her training, wondering what the effect would have on her body and her liver, but Alice is strong, resilient and sensible, she knows her body and she read all about the nutrition and hydration needed.
Once Alice commits to a challenge, she goes all in to achieve her goal, she’s a real inspiration. And although I knew she could do it and I knew she would love it, I didn’t realise how calm and confident she would be during all those hard training runs, she never complained once. My brother has done over 20 marathons, so she took a lot of advice from him, and he also went with her on a few of her long training runs, (he’s a very proud uncle now!) The only input I had was telling her how all the training and the hard work will be worth it on the day. She motivated herself!
And when the big day came, I have to say, I loved, loved, loved watching Alice run the marathon, I found it all very emotional, I was so proud wanting to tell everyone what she was doing and why. Unless you knew Alice in her early years, it is difficult to understand what she went through and why running 26.2 miles is even more of a massive achievement. Did I ever think all those years ago she would be doing this? Definitely not! Did I worry about her during the marathon, Yes – I always worry about her, I think that’s what parents do but I also know she is healthy, fit, well and strong.
I’m so happy for Alice to have achieved another super event in her life. The fact that she achieved this and raised money for the British Liver Trust makes the whole experience even more special. She recognises how important this charity is to others as it is to her and us.
Alice’s story
Since my mum took part in the marathon, we have always watched it on TV which made me really want to take part myself. I have a list of 30 things to do before I’m 30 and this is a big one on there! I always knew that mum had run those marathons for CLDF and the money she raised and the training she put in was inspiring to me to do the same, as I know how proud I was of her.
Biliary atresia has always been a part of my life. I had two operations and plenty of years in and out of hospital up to 2009 but I’m lucky enough to be currently very stable and healthy. I have appointments once a year for blood tests and scans which are always nerve- wracking. But I’m not on any medication at the minute which I’m incredibly grateful for, and I know I’m privileged to be in this position, as many in my situation have had a transplant already.
The impact of my condition is not really the physical way people would assume, it’s more of an emotional burden – the thought that one day I could need a transplant and having to be cautious with alcohol. But equally it makes me want to do as many things as I can and truly appreciate how lucky I am. I thought that to be able to run a marathon with a liver disease is pretty good going. And to be able to spread awareness for this disease is so important as it’s not well known at all.
Although I have always enjoyed running, it’s always been on a small scale and never that serious. So once I began training for the marathon, I impressed even myself, seeing how just a few months can improve my distance dramatically.
As for the day itself, I have to say I absolutely loved it! I was so nervous beforehand, but I called my parents and thought about why I was running and it made me so excited. I also met a man on the train who had run 17 marathons so I thought this can’t be as bad as that! The atmosphere was incredible and so motivating. I’d seen it on the TV of course but experiencing it as a runner was a whole other level. Seeing everyone cheer for their loved ones and all the charities was so special.
It’s undoubtedly a challenge! The first 19 miles were ok although it was very hot, but the last seven miles was the real hard part. Having to walk because I felt so sick wasn’t what I anticipated – I thought it would have been my legs that gave way first. And hearing strangers cheer for you is a strange but also very motivating experience.
I wouldn’t have got through it without my friends and family coming to see me. The support I got on the day was so valuable. My other motivator for running was my grandad who unfortunately passed away on Christmas Eve, he was such a big supporter of mine and I know he would have loved to have seen me run.
In the end I completed it in 5 hours 17 and raised £2,906! Everyone has been so generous, and it felt great to smash my original target of £2000. I now feel really proud of myself both to have run a marathon but also to have raised money and awareness for liver disease. It was such an emotional day and the memories it’s given me are so special. Now I can say I ran 15 years after my mum for the exact same reason!
