A woman who has run the London Marathon for three consecutive years has raised over £16,000 for research into Ewing sarcoma.
Karen Ellis, 61, has taken on the iconic race every year since 2022 in support of Freddie's Future — a Special Fund of the Bone Cancer Research Trust.
Karen was inspired to lace up her trainers to help patients like Freddie Croft, who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma when he was just six years old.
Reflecting on her marathon hat-trick, Karen shared:
My first London Marathon in 2022 was the biggest challenge of my life, having just turned sixty there were moments where I thought what am I doing?! But then I remembered why I am doing it, and this is what kept me going that year and every year since. The training was tough and getting motivated to go out running when it is minus degrees and pouring with rain was hard, but hearing about the research this charity funds to help patients like Freddie, I knew what I needed to do.
Laura Riach, Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said:
We are so grateful to Karen for her continued support of Freddie's Future. She truly has gone the extra mile to help improve outcomes for children like Freddie, and every penny raised will be put towards life-saving research to help more patients survive and thrive beyond their diagnosis.
Karen has been putting her best foot forward for ten-year-old Freddie Croft, her best friend's nephew, after hearing about his gruelling journey with Ewing sarcoma.
Freddie's diagnosis in November 2019 not only revealed that he had bone cancer, but also that it had spread (metastasised) around his tiny body.
His treatment involved months of chemotherapy, blood and platelet transfusions, injections, and radiotherapy — from which he suffered harsh side effects.
As a result of treatment, Freddie now has adrenal insufficiency, low thyroid levels and low growth hormones, with the lining of his lungs scarred from radiotherapy.
Freddie's family have since set up a Special Fund, called Freddie's Future, to raise money for the development of newer, kinder treatments for Ewing sarcoma patients.
To find out more about Freddie's Future, please click the link below:
If you feel inspired to take on a challenge for our vital work, visit our full list of events:
Karen Ellis at the London Marathon 2024
