Runners complete eye watering 32 mile run from Caddington to capital

Villagers Lynn Russell, Cindy Waxham, Tiffany Reed and Mike Morland took on the mega challenge to raise funds for a new ECMO machine at the hospital– equipment which helped save the life of Caddington Village School pupil Ava Mear.

The four-year-old suffered four heart attacks and had 45 minutes of CPR after being struck down with the most serious type of Strep A infection, but is now back on her feet and was able to welcome runners as they arrived at the hospital on Sunday.

The runners were joined for the final leg by two Village School teachers in Barnet– Rowena Baldwin and Emma Sweetman– while they were also given support along the way from a cycle team of six.

While helping the runners the cyclists, who included Ava’s father Clive, took donations and were given notes from passing motorists.

More than £600 was raised on the day, while the total fund for the challenged has topped £5,000.

Not including this sum, Clive Mear’s fund for a new £80k EMCO machine at GOSH stands at more than £33,000.

Runner Lynn Russell admitted: “It was one of the greatest days of my life”.

She added: “More than 100 villagers turned out to send us off and it really made us feel like heroes.

“We put blood, sweat and tears into the run and all managed to make it there.

“All four of us had completed marathons in April so it was just about going that extra distance.

“It was emotional and I am immensely proud of the community coming together. To see Ava at the hospital was the icing on the cake.”

To donate to the fund log on to www.justgiving.com/avas-ecmo-challenge.