Inspiring Ella Aims To Finish Unaided In Manchester

Join Ella at the Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run, open to children of all abilities between 3-15 years old.

BRAVE Ella Chadwick is returning to the Mini Great Manchester Run and has set her sights on crossing the finish line unaided for the first time.

The youngster, who survived 40 gruelling operations in her first six years before having a lifesaving kidney from her grandma, will mark her second “transplant birthday” at the North West’s biggest children’s running event.

Eight-year-old Ella completed the Mini Great Manchester Run for the first time last year with the help of a walking frame but has vowed to cross the finish line unaided for the first time when the event takes place at Etihad Campus on Saturday, May 21.

Ella, from Whitworth in Rochdale, has been a patient at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital all of her life after she was born with Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, a rare illness which causes kidney failure.

She was forced to have both of her kidneys removed and up until her life-saving transplant, she faced weekly hospital trips for dialysis.

Even after her transplant in May 2014, Ella suffered from ongoing mobility problems and had to learn how to support herself on her feet.

But after catching the running and fundraising bug at last year’s Mini Great Manchester Run, Ella is determined to ditch her walking frame and finish the 2016 event on her own two feet, in support of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity.

Ella’s mum, Karen Hughes said: “When we watched Ella take part in the Mini Great Manchester Run last year, it was fantastic to see how far she had come as she could only manage a short distance with her walking frame before.

“When she told me that she wants to finish the Mini event this year on her own two feet, I was so proud of her. She is absolutely determined to cross the finish line without the help of her frame.

“Ella is so selfless, even when she was in hospital, she was always comforting the children who were upset. She now wants to raise money for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, as she knows there are a lot of other sick children there.

“She has well and truly caught the bug for fundraising. She’s been practising her exercises; she is so driven to complete the goal she has set.

“It will be a fantastic moment and another huge step in her recovery.”

Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity is raising money to ensure continued excellence in treatment, care and research at the hospital – improving the lives of thousands of children each year across the North West and beyond.

The support of the Charity means that the hospital can provide additional resources to make life easier for patients and their families.

Hannah Thomas, Events Manager for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’re thrilled that Ella is once again taking on the Mini Great Manchester Run in support of our Children’s Hospital.

“As one of our patients we have known Ella since she was tiny, so we will all be so proud when she crosses the finish line without her walker.

“Ella is such an inspirational and cheerful little girl who never fails to put a smile on our faces.

“Ella and her family are long term fundraisers for our charity and we are very grateful for all of their continued support.”

The North West’s biggest and most popular children’s running event returns to Etihad Campus where thousands of youngsters can run, walk or jog through the iconic venue.

Join Ella at the Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run, open to children of all abilities between 3-15 years old. Enter now at greatrun.org/Manchester