A Ladbroke Grove woman could hardly walk after the London Marathon, “but it was all worth it” as she exceeded her target for raising money for children in Greater London with disabilities.
“I am really happy to have done it,” said Caroline Esmilaire. “Friends and colleagues were waiting for me along the way and it helped me push on.
“I cannot walk anymore but it was all worth it.”
This was her first marathon and Caroline targeted a time of five hours but completed the 26-mile course in four hours 58 minutes.
Caroline has worked for the Marriott hotels group in London for four-years and is Director of Revenue Strategy for the five-star London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square. She has been in training for the past year and it was all worth it.
“Friends suddenly appeared when I had finished,” she said. “I had a beer after the race but I could not finish it. I had a long bath on the evening – my best bath ever.”
Caroline targeted the sum of £2,500 for Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children and so far has raised £2,550. You can still add to Caroline’s fund by clicking on www.justgiving.com/caroline-esmilaire
Every penny that Caroline raises will be used to help provide vital specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness in Greater London.
Newlife has funded over 550 Equipment Grants totalling over three quarters of a million pounds for children in the county; this includes wheelchairs and buggies for mobility, beds and stair climbers to keep them safe at night and communication aids to give children a voice.
Statutory services in Greater London often have a responsibility to make equipment provision – but when help is declined, Newlife steps in. The charity challenges many such decisions and has an impressive success rate. However, where we are unable to overturn these decisions, we provide the equipment ourselves through our range of grant and loan services. We do this with the support of front-line health professionals across Greater London who have helped Newlife help local children in real need.
The recently launched Newlife Greater London Fund supports equipment provision for under-19s facing any significant disability, whether acquired through birth defect, prematurity, accident or illness and right now £61,573 is needed to help 29 Greater London families.
Vitally, the Greater London Fund website – www.newlifecharity.co.uk/greaterlondon – will enable local people to find out who needs help in the area right now and highlight the support the charity gives vulnerable families. It includes contact details for the Newlife County Liaison Team – telephone number 01543 431 444 or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk – and shows specific ways people can help support children with disability and terminal illness and their families.
“Seeing first hand the dedication and courage of all the runners was inspirational,” added Newlife Head of Operations Stephen Morgan.
“People like Caroline who are committed to raising money are the key to us continuing to be able to support vulnerable families, as the demand on Newlife equipment services increases.”
For more information about Newlife Foundation, go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk. The Newlife Community Fundraising team can be contacted on 0800 988 4640 (free from UK landlines) or by emailing fundraise@newlifecharity.co.uk.
All equipment support services can be accessed via the Newlife Nurse Helpline – 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines) or email nurses@newlifecharity.co.uk.
Pictured: Caroline Esmilaire
Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
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