Harriet Martin

About

I am running this half Marathon in loving memory of my beautiful niece Harriet.  Harriet was born with a serious congenital heart defect, which unfortunately was not diagnosed at birth, but at age 1.  She had her first open heart surgery soon after.  Despite all this she was starting to thrive.  Some months later she contracted a bacterial infection on her heart.  Her case was complex and challenging for the medics.  Then she acquired a life-threatening arrhythmia and we waited 7 long months in hospital for her to be at minimal risk for the defibrillator to be inserted. Harriet enjoyed some long overdue and hugely cherished family time at home and got straight back into normal life, playing, going on holiday, attending nursery and generally being a bossy little 4-year-old. In May 2016 Harriet suddenly fell ill and tragically died within hours. It was not heart related but thought to be an infection. The infection was so aggressive that her heart was under too much pressure to be able to fight it. Her name and character will live on in Piggles Trust, a Charity set up to provide pre-school education to patients and their siblings in hospital

Event details

Manchester Half Marathon for Piggles Trust!

Piggles Trust
Creating a ‘normal’ environment within the most ‘abnormal’ of situations is the hardest challenge any children’s department within a hospital is faced with. Whilst addressing the clinical needs of the most unwell children, it is no less important to consider the overall emotional, developmental and mental well-being of the child and their family. The complete upheaval, change of environment away from ‘normal’ family life, coupled with the fear of uncertainty all play a huge role in this hugely distressing time for both the child and, just as importantly, their family. Piggles Trust aims to bridge some of these gaps by creating more of a ‘home from home’ experience, specifically through education.

Event date

28-May-2017 09:00  - 
28-May-2017 12:00

Event type

UK challenge

Event is completed