“There’ll be no stopping us” – family run to raise cash for Bluebell Wood
A 38-year-old mother of two is using her young son’s recovery from serious illness as motivation when she and her family take on the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon in October.
Marissa Gaunt, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, will run the 13.1-mile route with her husband Craig in aid of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice later this year, taking inspiration from their son Brodie’s recovery from a serious viral infection, from which he almost died, when he was just 14 months old.
Brodie, now six, will also be taking part in the event’s 1km Fun Run with his sister Maisey along with other pupils from St Peter and St Paul School in Chesterfield.
The family will be taking part to support Chesterfield Half Marathon charity partner Bluebell Wood, and have signed up to a weekly after-school running club set up by St Peter and St Paul School to allow pupils and parents to train together in the lead-up to the event.
Marissa said: “You always think life is so precious, especially with your children. Being in that situation, it just pulls on your heartstrings.”
“When Brodie was 14 months old he had a viral infection which spread to his brain, and ended up with inflammation on the brain. He spent two months in hospital and had to learn to crawl and eat again.”
“Thankfully he was discharged but the experience will live with us forever.”
“We’re so lucky to have our lives and when we heard about the work of Bluebell Wood, we wanted to support them.”
Marissa and her daughter Maisey take part in a 5km Park Run every Saturday, with Brodie recently joining them after completing his first run in 39 minutes.
The Chesterfield Half won’t be Marissa and Craig’s first endurance event experience, however – the couple completed the Robin Hood Half Marathon in Nottingham eight years ago in 130 minutes, and are aiming to break the two-hour mark this time.
“Anything we can raise will be amazing,” said Marissa.
“I would say we’ll aim for £500 and any more on top of that would be incredible. Once we get started there’ll be no stopping us.”
Lucy Rathbone, Community Fundraiser at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, said: “It’s fantastic seeing what St. Peter and St. Paul School are doing – with some incredible people and families taking part in their weekly running club.”
“Marissa and her family’s story is a genuinely inspirational one – having been through tough times themselves they’ve come through and are now actively contributing to raising money for a great cause while also keeping fighting fit!”
The deadline to sign up for any of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon races is midnight on Sunday 7th October. For more information and to sign up please click here.
