Metropolitan Policewoman to run Antarctic marathon to help children with cancer
Friday, 11 November, 2011
Acting Detective Inspector Yvonne Brown from Barnet Police will on 30 November run the Antarctic Ice Marathon to fundraise for lifesaving cancer treatment for three girls that suffer from neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. One of these children, Robyn Higgins, is the daughter of a Metropolitan Police officer, DC Greg Higgins, who is based at Hendon.
Acting Detective Inspector Yvonne Brown and her husband Detective Sergeant Richard Brown lost their six-year-old son Jack to neuroblastoma in May 2009.
Yvonne is only the fifth British woman to attempt the Antarctic Ice Marathon, which is one of the toughest marathons in the world. The marathon takes place close to the South Pole at an altitude of 3,000 feet and runners face temperatures as low as minus 35°C.
Yvonne, who has two other children - Connor, 15, and Rhian, 12 - decided to take on this gruelling challenge to raise money for three children that are currently suffering from the disease.
"To lose your child is the worst thing that can happen to anyone. Having to tell Connor and Rhian that they had lost their little brother and watch them suffer was just awful. I will do anything to help other families not go through the pain our family went through," said Yvonne.
Yvonne will be raising money for the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance, a charity that helps children and families affected by neuroblastoma by providing financial assistance for treatment and funding clinical research into the condition.
The money will go towards the charity's appeals for three neuroblastoma sufferers - two-year-old Sadie Rose Clifford from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, four-year-old Emma Hoolin from Wigan, Lancashire and 9-year-old Robyn Higgins from Frimley, Surrey. All three children need treatment that is only available in the US and costs in excess of £250,000.
Although Yvonne is a keen runner and has run a few marathons before, she has never taken on a challenge on the scale of the Ice Marathon before. She is also recovering from a hamstring injury, but is determined to not let this stop her.
"This will undoubtedly be the most difficult thing I've ever done physically. And, with the exception of losing Jack, it will be the biggest mental challenge I've ever had to cope with. I'm determined to finish it though, to help Sadie, Emma and Robyn get the treatment they desperately need," said Yvonne.
Alison Moy, Chief Executive of the Neuroblastoma Alliance UK said: "I know that Sadie, Emma and Robyn's families are so grateful to Yvonne for taking on this gruelling challenge to help their little girls fight this devastating disease. Yvonne's determination to take on such a massive challenge to help other families affected by neuroblastoma is inspirational."
To support Yvonne in her Ice Marathon, visit:
www.justgiving.com/yvonnes-ice-marathon
