Supporter of the month – Laura Christopherson
On 22 April Laura Christopherson will take her place alongside over 35,000 runners to participate in the Virgin London Marathon. Months of training go into this moment, which is a real challenge of human endurance.
World turned upside down
However, 20-year-old Laura Christopherson is no stranger to challenge. In 2008 Laura found out that her Mum, Susie, had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Susie had a growth the size of an orange inside her chest cavity and, as a result, she went through six gruelling months of chemotherapy at The John Radcliffe Hospital. Laura’s world was turned upside down. With her Mum sick, she had to care for her 8-year-old brother, all whilst studying for her important A-Level examinations.
Fortunately, chemotherapy and the drug rituximab, which Laura refers to as her Mum’s "wonder drug", took effect, and Susie went into remission. Laura managed to get her life back on track. She passed her A-Levels, gained a place at Newcastle University and started her gap year in Australia.
Personal marathon
In February 2010, whilst in Australia, Laura faced a further challenge when she was involved in a bus crash involving 18 other people. Laura broke several bones and fractured her back, which required intensive care. Over the following months Laura had to endure several operations to remove glass and debris from her back, as well as 14 long months of physiotherapy.
Now, just over two years after her accident, Laura is facing her next test. Laura aims to run the Virgin London Marathon and raise £12,000 for Cancer Research UK. Despite having spent a large portion of the last two years either in a wheelchair or on crutches, and the fact that she is very much still recovering from her injuries, Laura says that her past experiences have made her realise just how short life can be. With this in mind, Laura wants to raise money for Cancer Research UK's groundbreaking work.
You can find out more about Laura, and show your support, by donating on Laura’s online fundraising page.
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Take the challenge and run for charity
If you have been inspired by Laura’s story, and would like to raise money for Cancer Research UK, take a look at the range of events and sign up for a challenge.
