Charity Run This Weekend

Portishead Running Club is raising money for Make-A-Wish

Portishead Running Club (PRC) is raising money in support of club member Paula Veysey and her family. A grant from Make-A-Wish enabled Paula and her family to make irreplaceable memories by taking daughter Charlotte on an amazing trip of a lifetime. Now Paula wants other families to benefit from similar experiences and on 28th and 29th March, Portishead Running Club members will take on the challenge of running up hills with a total combined elevation higher than the three tallest mountains in the world (85,452 feet!) in just one weekend to raise money for the organisation.

Here’s Paula’s story: "In 2016, our world came crashing down when we were told our two-year-old daughter Charlotte had MLD: a genetic, progressive condition that has no cure. Over the next few years we would have to watch our perfect little girl lose her ability to walk, talk, eat, move and eventually lose her life.

We decided to make the time we had left the happiest it could be for Charlotte and in 2017, Make-A-Wish helped us with this by granting her wish to go to Disneyland Paris. Make-A-Wish were absolutely brilliant and had thought of everything to make it as special and relaxed as possible. Lottie had lunch with the princesses and Mickey Mouse & friends and she absolutely loved it! It was so good to get away and the best distraction from the continual changes we were facing at home. We will remember Charlotte’s smiles on this trip forever.

This year will be ten years since Charlotte’s diagnosis and we are trying to raise funds so that more children and families going through the toughest times in their lives can be granted a wish and make some beautiful memories to treasure forever. I would love to make enough for 3 terminally ill children have a life-changing wish. I am lucky enough to be a part of the most amazing and supportive running club PRC and we have set a challenge to support my fundraising on Charlotte’s behalf.”

Make-A-Wish® UK grant life-changing wishes for thousands of critically ill children across the UK. Sadly, the number of wish enquiries from seriously ill children with less than a year to live is rising fast.

Anyone wishing to donate in support of this can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/page/portishead-running-club-3