High Roding teacher runs London marathon to raise funds to research children’s cancers
Teacher Heidi Shubrook ran the London Marathon for research into childhood cancer - Credit: Archant
Teacher Heidi Shubrook from High Roding finished her first London marathon in four hours, 27 minutes and raised more than £1,600 for research into childhood cancers – inspired by a pupil at her school.
She said: “I loved every second and I have been so lucky to have no aches or pains afterwards. It was amazing.”
She added: “It was very emotional, incredible, even from mile two, I couldn’t stop smiling. “The communities in London are so generous, they are all along the route giving you ice-pops and fruit and calling out your name.
“Your family can’t be all along the way to cheer you on, so it’s great when the crowd call out to you. They were shouting ‘Heidi Hi, come on Heidi’.
“Because I was wearing my (colourful) leggings people at mile 23 said they remembered me from mile 10. That’s astonishing when you think there are 40,000 people running.
“It was such a lovely day to run, a lot of the pubs were decorated for St George’s Day. Seeing the London Eye was amazing.
“It was great to see so many people cheering us on. Most people were running for charity. I know there are a lot of bad things going on in the world but this is what community is all about.”
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At the finishing line Heidi, a mum of three, was greeted by her husband, Martin, and her friends dressed up in fairy wings, pom poms and tutus.
She said: “That was so emotional and the crowds went crazy. I’ve already emailed to ask if I can run next year.”
Heidi, a reception teacher at St Nicholas School, Old Harlow, was inspired by the undaunted spirit of pupil Edie Wilson, 11, from Bishop’s Stortford who has been battling brain cancer, since she was diagnosed in 2012, aged six.
Heidi said: “Edie would go to school every day if she could. She still plays football and goes to her dance classes.”
Edie’s family, who sponsored Heidi, have set up Edie’s Butterfly Appeal to raise money for research into her condition, ependymoma, to help other children
Heidi has a daughter, Olivia, the same age as Edie,, as well as Henry, six and Arthur, three.
She will share the money between Edie’s Butterfly Appeal and the charity Children With Cancer.
For more information on Edie’s Butterfly Appeal, see www.ediesbutterflyappeal.com
