Great Ormond Street Hospitall

Link to Just Giving page for Emma:

Emma Cheetham is fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity

At the age of 4 years old, when I was only 18 months, my brother, and best friend, was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). He was put under the care of Professor Howarth who put him on a relatively new treatment at the time, epoprostenol. This was life supporting medication that was required to be delivered intravenously 24/7 through a pump he wore in a backpack. The diagnosis was bleak and he was given less than a year to live. Despite this he lived a life far fuller and longer than anyone could have imagined for him, thanks to the care of GOSH. He was an avid skier, wakeboarder, and motorsport fan, but more importantly he was a clown. Not a day went past where he didn’t make people laugh, even if sometimes it was at his own stupidity. 

He eventually suffered a cardiac arrest whilst on holiday in France, his favourite place, at the age of 15. He spent 2 weeks in a French ICU before being repatriated back to GOSH, where we were told that the brain damage suffered was catastrophic. Sam spent the last couple of weeks of his life at GOSH, where they looked after both him and my family with such compassion. My family were put up in rooms across the square from the hospital so that we could be close by to him, something that allowed us to say goodbye to him without the additional stress of commuting from home or the expense of a hotel. Despite it being a horrendous time for my family, the doctors, nurses, and hospital charity made the whole process easier through their kindness and support

Whilst my brother was alive, he was involved in raising money for GOSH by doing speeches for them at events such as at the ATP gala dinner, British Gas Swim and Royal Berkshire Shooting School, as he wanted to give back to a hospital that gave him so much. This year, on the 13th of June, it will mark the date that I have lived more of my life without my brother than with my brother. To mark the occasion I thought it was my turn to give something back to GOSH, to help them help other families like mine, and so I have challenged myself to run the London marathon. Sam never once complained about his illness, despite the fact his lungs were so compromised that it would’ve felt like he was jogging even at rest. It is this thought that will power me through even the toughest parts of training and the race. 

My motivation to train for and complete the London Marathon will be my brother—a remarkable individual who lived life fully despite his challenges. My pain and exhaustion during training will be nothing compared to what he endured daily. I am running this marathon because of him and for him.

Please find link to Just Giving page: Emma Cheetham is fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity

Emma Cheetham is fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity