Rochdale man to take on London Marathon for cystic fibrosis

Kia-Louise and Lee Buckley

Rochdale man Lee Buckley is hoping to inspire local people who have a Virgin London Marathon ballot place to run for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Lee, who serves in the Royal Signals in the British Army, is currently living in Germany with his wife Claire, sons Kayden and Liam, and one year old daughter Kia-Louise. He recently had major ligament surgery which has taken 18 months to heal but despite this is determined to take part in the 26.2 mile race on Sunday 21 April 2013.

Lee is running to raise awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis (CF), one of the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited diseases. When Lee’s daughter was born doctors suspected she had CF and a family friend also has the condition. Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and digestive system making it difficult to breathe and digest food.

Lee said “My wife Claire used to babysit a young girl with CF called Lizzie and is very fond of her. When our daughter Kia-Louise was three months old she became very poorly, losing weight and coughing and vomiting with every feed and the doctors suspected she had cystic fibrosis. She was in and out of the hospital for the next three months with pneumonia, bronchitis and it was a very worrying time. Thankfully her tests for cystic fibrosis came back clear but because of Lizzie my wife and I were very aware of what a diagnosis of CF could mean. At 6 months old doctors discovered Kia had an enlarged wind pipe which thankfully she has grown out of with the help of physiotherapy and she is now a happy and healthy little girl.”

“I decided I wanted to do my bit to raise awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis. Lizzie is now 12 years old and has been in and out of hospital her whole life and is now waiting for a double lung transplant. We are so relieved that Kia doesn’t have cystic fibrosis but each week five babies are born with CF and two young lives lost to the disease. Only half of those with CF will live to see their 41st birthday and I want to raise as much as I can to help fund new treatments so that people will live longer, happier and healthier lives. I hope anyone in my home town of Rochdale who has a place in the London Marathon will consider using it to run for Team CF.”

Money raised by Virgin London Marathon runners will help fund research into treating and curing CF. It will also help provide support, advice and appropriate clinical care to over 9,300 babies, children and young adults living with Cystic Fibrosis in the UK.

You can sponsor Lee at http://virginmoneygiving.com/leebuckley472

If you have a place in the Marathon and would like to join Team CF contact the Events Team on 0300 373 1100 or email events@cftrust.org.uk

All runners receive a complimentary Team CF running vest to wear with pride on the day, team e-newsletters, newsletters, race day kerb crews and invite to post run hospitality, complete with masseurs.