Amazing Auntie Aims for Thousands After Support Was Given to Family

A devoted Auntie is lacing up her trainers to take on the Great North Run as part of a triple challenge to thank a children's charity that supported her family when they needed it the most.

Vanessa Wright, 32, from Selby will be taking on the epic 13.1 miles in an attempt to raise thousands of pounds for The Sick Children's Trust who gave her sister-in-law Danielle and her partner, Alex, free accommodation when their little girl was seriously ill in Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Isabelle was born with a rare bowel disorder which caused a blockage. The condition, known as an echogenic bowel resulted in Isabelle requiring an emergency operation to remove 75% of it and being transferred 25 miles away from the family's hometown of Doncaster for specialist treatment in Sheffield.

During this time, The Sick Children's Trust provided free accommodation to parents Danielle and Alex, giving them direct access to the ward at all times but also a place to gain some respite. This enabled the parents to bond with their daughter in the first few months of her life, alongside giving the rest of the family, namely Isabelle's brother and sister, somewhere to stay so that they could be with their new sibling.

Vanessa, who earlier this year completed the London Marathon, wants to say thank you to the charity for providing the 'Home from Home' care for her family. She says:

"My entire family owe a huge debt of gratitude to The Sick Children's Trust for their support. Words can't describe the pain of having a sick baby, and I can't begin to imagine how parents like Danielle and Alex must feel.

"I'm an immensely practical person, but have felt totally helpless to do anything to improve Isabelle's health, so the only thing I can offer is to put on my running shoes and take on challenges that will do something to help the many other families like mine who are going through the same difficult emotional journey."

Ann Wyatt, The Sick Children's Trust's Treetop and Magnolia House Manager, based in Sheffield, is one of Vanessa's biggest supporters. She says:

"We are already so proud of Vanessa for all her training and fundraising so far. She has surpassed her fundraising target of £5,500."

Vanessa, who is a Doctor, has been preparing for the Great North Run by taking on a number of runs over the last two years. She has also been running four times a week and playing netball. She continues:

"When I turned 30 I decided it was time to put my words into actions, and here I am two years later taking on a triple running challenge for a truly wonderful cause. Giving something back to The Sick Children's Trust to say 'thank you and keep up the good work' means the world to me, and those close to Isabelle."

To read more about Vanessa's story and to support her, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/vanessa-wright6/