Koren’s Marathon for CLAPA
Koren decided to support CLAPA after seeing the difference our support made to her friend’s family when their son Teddy was born with a cleft. We caught up with her to hear about her incredible fundraising efforts.
What now seems like an eternity ago, I was lucky enough to win a ballot place in the 2020 London Marathon which should have been run in April.
I decided to use my place to try and raise some money for a charity. I chose CLAPA because in September 2019 my friend and colleague Alice and her partner Will had a little boy called Teddy, a gorgeous little boy who also happened to have an incomplete unilateral cleft lip and sub mucus cleft palate.
CLAPA provided Alice and Will with guidance, support and information before and after Teddy’s arrival so I chose them to try and help.
Most of the money I raised came from sponsorship. I was lucky because as well as my own family and friends there was also Teddy’s family and friends. Teddy’s Nanna even did a collection for me at her lunch club. I also shared my efforts a lot on social media which did make a difference. I set off hoping to raise a few hundred pounds but by the time Covid had happened and the race was run virtually at home I had raised £1400!
I set off hoping to raise a few hundred pounds but by the time Covid had happened and the race was run virtually at home I had raised £1400!
The race itself was different, ran at home in October with friends running with me and family and friends cheering me on. Unique and special a bit like Teddy.
I would encourage anyone to run for CLAPA, they are a fantastic small charity who help so many families deal with the unexpected and like all charities this year they need all the help they can get.
If you would like to know how Teddy is getting along, you can see his story on Instagram @teddys_smile_
