London miles for charity (From Witney Gazette)

London miles for charity

3:10pm Thursday 23rd March 2006 in Witney By Rosalind Miles

A LEAFIELD mother is to run the London Marathon to help fight a disease that affected her daughter.

Samantha Sole's baby, Madelie, fell ill with meningitis aged just seven weeks, and was in hospital for two weeks while recovering from the illness.

She has since made a full recovery, and Mrs Sole, 40, of The Green, Leafield, will run the arduous race to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust.

She said: "It was a very traumatic time when Madelie was ill. Fortunately, we caught it very early, and were very lucky to walk out of hospital all in one piece, while other sufferers lose their hearing and their limbs.

"I wanted to do the marathon for myself, to get fit, and to do something for all those others who have been very badly affected.

"It can be absolutely devastating."

"I wanted to do the marathon for myself, to get fit, and to do something for all those others who have been very badly affected. "

Samantha Sole

Madelie will be three years old at the time of the marathon, on April 23.

So far, Mrs Sole has raised £1,000 for the Meningitis Trust, a charity which works to increase awareness of the disease, and offers practical support to people coping with the effects of suffering.

Anyone wishing to sponsor her should call 01993 878552.