Surrey Siblings’ Marathon Efforts For Charity

14 August 2019
Community

Surrey Siblings’ Marathon Efforts For Charity

A brother and sister from Surrey have proved that fundraising can be a family affair, the pair have spent the past year doing their bit for Muscular Dystrophy UK following the younger sibling’s diagnosis of the condition. Tackling half marathons in Bristol and Edinburgh, before taking on their first full marathon, the world-famous London Marathon this spring which saw them raise more than £4,000.

Following the shock diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH), Alex Jenn, 21, and his sister Lizzie Jenn, 25, decided that they would do what they could to help raise much-needed funds for the UK’s largest muscular dystrophy charity, Muscular Dystrophy UK. Alex, a Maths student at Bristol University, and charity data analyst, Lizzie, the pair who grew up in Outwood decided to fundraise.

Alex’s diagnosis of FSH came as a shock and a surprise to him and his family, he had been struggling with movement in his shoulder but the diagnosis was not expected. Muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle conditions resulting in increasing weakening and breakdown of skeletal muscles over time – disorders differ by muscles affected, the level of weakness, speed muscles worsen, and when symptoms begin.

Following the diagnosis, Lizzie says: “To help him turn this news into something positive, I suggested he join me on a run and one run turned into many more! He found it really helped with his mental health and showed him he could still use his body.”

Alex is only affected mildly relative to others with the condition, but the big sister and little brother duo decided to turn their love of running, the pair are big fans of Reigate Priory parkrun, to help others less fortunate as Alex. In May last year, Alex and Lizzie slipped on their running shoes and shorts and ran their first half marathon in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, the run saw them raise more than £2,500.

Not content with a half marathon, the siblings lined up their first full marathon, and set their sights on London, being inspired after watching the millions of runners who ran the 2018 marathon event. Their capital punishment on London’s streets paid off in April as Alex and Lizzie smashed their fundraising target of £3,500 by raising £4,114.69 in donations from family and friends for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Speaking about marathon running, Lizzie says: “Running for a charity definitely motivates you to keep going on those long, lonely winter runs in the rain and wind. If you can find a running buddy or club then that is also a good motivator.’

“The real marathon is the training, the actual day of the marathon is the final lap! But you are getting fit and helping a great cause at the same time which has really boosted our self-confidence – especially Alex knowing he can run so far even with his diagnosis.”