Support the Puffin’ Puffin – Run for Cystic Fibrosis

As many of you know, Leeds Book Club just wouldn’t work without the effervescent Helen – she runs LBC Puffins, co-hosts LBC White Swan and is up for each and every reading challenge (that orientates around books for younger people). Frankly I don’t know how she does it – she’s a tireless wonder and source of inspiration and joy.

So it comes as no surprise to find that she has taken on a new challenge and will be completing a 10km run next month to raise money for a great cause.

VISIT THE CROWDFUNDING PAGE HERE!

If you can, have a read below and send any and all support to Helen (from virtual hugs to actual pennies).

There is still 4 weeks to go before the big run! All encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Carly and Helen

I met Carly at college. We were around 17/18 We were both doing the GNVQ Art and Design at Bishop Auckland. We all had our own little units and were a little family. We would spend breaks and dinners together.

You see, this girl, woman was incredible. She took me for who I was, we were thick as thieves but there was a shadow over our friendship. Carly had Cystic Fibrosis. I never saw the illness I saw the person. I adored her and can’t believe I let her down when I moved to Middlesbrough to do my HND and didn’t stay in touch enough. Yes we wrote letters , but I didn’t come back enough to go out and spend time with her. Carly at the time had to repeat her course because she had taken a bit of time off.

Any time Carly got a cold it would knock her for six. But she still tried her hardest to finish her art course until the illness got the better of her and her body couldn’t take it any more. I lost her in February 2000. She was 20.

So this Race is for her. And for me to say Thank you.

Where the money is going: Team Jack

Jack is 6. He was diagnosed at 3 weeks. Although Jack looks like any normal 6 year old, on the inside he is fighting to stay alive. He finds it hard to do what we all take fur granted every day. He fights to simply breathe. Jack takes upwards of 33 tablets a day. Two hours of hard physio and this is when he is well!! At any time a chest infection can have him admitted to hospital for weeks of intensive and invasive treatments. So much for a 6 year old to go through abs even harder knowing the NHS have declined the wonder drug orkimbi (please spell check), Our fight is to let people know what cf is, how people live with this horrible condition and how it’s beatable together xx

Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting inherited condition caused by a faulty gene that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. This causes mucus to gather in the lungs and digestive system and creates a range of challenging symptoms.