Runners raise funds for rare illness charity

PETE Williams has marked his 50th birthday by running in a marathon and a half marathon – and also raising money for a charity that supports women with a rare illness.

He recently completed the Bristol to Bath marathon, and prior to that competed in the Great West Run in Exeter.

Pete, a dental technician who lives in Silverton, near Exeter, took part in the events with fellow Silverton residents Russ Winter, an entrepreneur, Kimble West, a civil engineer and Nick Hopkinson, an IT manager, who run as Team Silverton Old Dads in green and gold running kit.

The money they have raised in sponsorship will go to the charity LAM Action, which supports women with the rare, incurable lung disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis, which is better known as LAM.

Pete was inspired to raise money for LAM Action because his friend Jim Blackburn’s younger sister, Helen Sabin, has the condition, which progressively destroys lung tissue and leads to breathing problems, and can also cause benign kidney tumours.

He said: “Helen is a smashing lady who deserves everything we can give. Helen's brother James is a good friend who has raised money by cycling in the past. At present he has an injury, so we thought we'd pick up the baton so to speak.

“The illness affects just a few women. But the ladies are the lynch pin of any family, so it is vital to raise awareness as well as funds.

“Russ and I were both 50 this year, so doing the runs is a bit of a ‘bucket list’. Russ is a super trainer and got me from nothing to finishing the Great West Run in 2.15.30. My best time for a half was 2.07, but in the Great West Run you have to go around people!

“Our proud livery is the green and gold of Exe Valley Brewery, who have given us a pack of beer for the sponsor we will draw from the hat.”
LAM is believed to affect around 250 women in the UK. There is presently no cure for LAM, and the cause is unknown, although it is believed to have a hormonal connection as it mainly affects women of childbearing age.

Helen, a mother of two who lives in Leamington Spa, said: “I was diagnosed seven years ago, and was initially told I had five years to live, but I’m still here and plan to be here a lot longer thanks to funds raised by people like Pete who seek out little known charities that get no governmental support.

“Thanks to the monies raised over the last few years I, and other LAM patients, have been prescribed a drug called Sirolumus, also known as Rapamycin. I am truly one of the lucky ones, as it suits me and the decline of my lung function has slowed right down.

“Unfortunately, there are LAM patients for whom this drug either doesn't suit, as they can’t cope with the side effects or it just simply doesn't work, so obviously research continues, and research is very expensive.

“As well as being a patient I am a member of the LAM Action Charity Committee, and on behalf of all patients in the UK I would like to thank Pete, Russ, Kimble and Nick from the bottom of our hearts for raising funds for research into Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.”

The fundraising page for Pete Williams is www.justgiving.com/TeamSod

For more information about LAM Action visit: www.lamaction.org