Newark Half Marathon – August 9th 2009
A woman who had a liver transplant three years ago will be running in this year’s Newark Half-marathon in aid of the hospital that treated her.
It will be the first time Miss Christine Barlow (36) of Farndon Road, Newark, has taken part in such a race and she hopes to raise £1,000.
She was diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago when doctors found a tumour in her pancreas. They removed her spleen and she made a full recovery.
However, at her five-year annual check-up it was discovered she had cancer of the liver.
Miss Barlow said: “It’s called the quiet cancer. You can live with it for years. I had to have my liver removed and was given a transplant.
“I was lucky. There’s a long waiting list for transplants,” she said.
She has been a member of her gym for several months but it was not until a friend put her forward for the half-marathon, which takes place on August 9, that she started to take her training seriously.
Miss Barlow said: “I’ve been going to the gym three times a week, running on the treadmill and increasing my distance. I’ve also been out on the roads.
“I’m pleased with my progress.”
Her illness has left her diabetic and on 13 different types of tablets but she is determined to complete the 13.1-mile course.
Miss Barlow said: “It’s not going to beat me.”
She plans to divide the money she raises between the Royal Free Hospital, London, where she underwent the transplant, and the NET Patient Foundation, which supports people with Miss Barlow’s type of cancer.
