Macclesfield woman to run London Marathon in memory of late daughter
By Alex Greensmith
28th Feb 2024 | Local News
A Macclesfield woman is to run her second London Marathon.
Louise Jennings, of Broken Cross, is to run the London Marathon this April.
The hair and fitness professional will be raising money for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
Louise and her family have fundraised over £44,000 for the charity since their daughter Mia, passed away in January 2023.
All of that staggering amount of money has gone to Cardiac Risk in the Young.
Macclesfield Nub News met with Louise to find out more.
"Cardiac Risk in the Young is an amazing charity as they do heart screenings for 14-35 year olds", said Louise.
"It is all funded by fundraisers like ourselves. And those screenings can potentially save a life.
"They can diagnose undiagnosed heart conditions you wouldn't be aware of without the screening.
"It is unheard of. It is not a well-known charity, and we unfortunately found out in the circumstances we did losing Mia.
"The last screening we did earlier this at Macclesfield Leisure Centre screened 210 people, which resulted in 16 referrals which is quite a high percentage of referrals really.
"And another screening is coming up at Congleton Leisure Centre. [Which previous Macclesfield fundraisers for CRY have paid for.]"
It will be Louise's third ever marathon, as well as completing the Manchester Marathon, she ran the London Marathon in 2018 in scorching temperatures.
So hopefully, with milder weather this time round, Louise will smash her personal best this April.
Last time she ran for East Cheshire Hospice, and raised upwards of five grand.
So far, she's raised £1877 so far for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
"My initial target was £1000", added Louise.
"To anyone that has donated, thank you so so much. We are so grateful for the ongoing support that we've had. Because I feel like we are reaching out to the same people, but they keep giving back.
"So hopefully, doing this article today it will reach further afield to raise awareness and hopefully funds.
"The support has been amazing, shocking, heartfelt."
Mia, a former swim teacher of Macclesfield Leisure Centre, will also have one of her former colleagues run the London Marathon for CRY as well as her mum.
Louise has been training in Sutton, Langley, Henbury, and Gawsworth.
"I've been training hilly so it will hopefully make it easier on the day," she quipped.
Family members will be cheering her on from the sidelines on the big day.
Louise is a lifelong Maxonian, and former Tytherington School pupil.
"Thank you so so much to everyone that has donated, and will donate, it means the world," concluded Louise.
Macclesfield: To donate to Louise's crowdfunder, please click HERE.
Dr Steven Cox is Chief Executive of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
"Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people in the UK die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition," he said.
"In 80% of these cases, there will have been no signs or symptoms of a heart defect until it is too late, which is why CRY believes screening is so vitally important (particularly for those involved in regular, physical activity).
"As such, CRY now tests around 27,000 young people each year, aged between 14 and 35.
"As CRY receives no government funding, our UK-wide screening programme is only possible because of the backing CRY receives from families (such as Mia Jennings wonderful family and friends) to help us provide this service free to the public.
"Since 1995 when CRY was first established, we really have had such incredible support from those who've been affected by the young sudden cardiac death. And, here at CRY, we all find it so humbling that despite their own experience, bereaved families find the strength to see through their grief and feel able to give back to charitable organisations through amazing fundraising and awareness efforts – often with the common goal of wanting to prevent other families from having to face the same tragic circumstances as they have."
Dr Cox concludes; "In addition to our pioneering screening programme which has been so generously supported by Mia's family, CRY also funds a world-renowned research centre in London and a unique, nationwide Bereavement Support network.
"These services are so important and I'd therefore like to publicly thank Louise for taking on the enormous challenge of the London Marathon in April to raise funds for CRY. Many of our team will be amongst the crowds on the day, cheering our "CRY runners" and we'll all be backing Louise every step of the way!"
For more information about CRY's services please go to; www.c-r-y.org.uk or to register interest for a cardiac screening near you, visit; www.testmyheart.org.uk.
Once again, you can donate to Louise's fundraiser on this link.
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