Wirral student runs half-marathon for cousin battling cancer

Mar 6 2013 by Linda Foo Guest, Heswall News

A STUDENT is running a half-marathon in support of a family member battling cancer.

Georgina Crayford, 23, is taking on the gruelling challenge after her cousin’s husband was diagnosed with bowel cancer six months after his wedding.

Georgina, from Neston, is studying a PhD, researching salmonella in pigs at Liverpool University.

She said: “I’m supporting Bowel & Cancer Research because it’s vital that research is supported to prevent others having to go through the suffering that he and others have.”

Georgina began training for the Liverpool event in October.

She plays lacrosse for Liverpool Ladies to keep her fit, and is confident she will finish the course in two hours.

The Liverpool half-marathon takes place on March 17.

Georgina added: “I've been running on and off for a couple of years but never had the impetus to compete or go great distances.

“The most I've done is six miles so I've just got the small task of running double that and a bit more.”

Her mum and dad, Jon and Kay, are travelling from Kent to cheer her on, along with her university friends.

Georgina has already smashed her fundraising target of £350, and so far raised £417.

Chief executive of Bowel & Cancer Research, Deborah Gilbert said: “Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, claiming a life every 30 minutes.

“If we are to help change that, the support of people like Georgina is vital.”

Visit Georgina’s fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/porgeygeorge