Whitnash student takes on half marathon for Paddy

CRAZY, stupid and brave are just some of the names Whitnash student Laura Maltby has been called since deciding to run the Birmingham Half Marathon on Sunday.

The Warwick University graduate and her friends Claire McMaster and Mez Tesfayohannes will lace up their running shoes to join 15,000 others as they race 13 miles through the streets of the city.

They will be running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, whose nurses helped family friend Peter Cronin as he battled cancer of the oesophagus.

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While she admits she has had her doubts about the task facing her, she denies she is as brave as Mr Cronin.

Laura said: “Brave, I am not. But a family friend Peter Cronin, 65, from Leamington, was.

“Peter, or Paddy as he was known among friends and family, valiantly fought cancer of the oesophagus for over 12 months until March this year.

“During this difficult time, Paddy and his family received frequent help from Macmillan Cancer Support.”

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Paddy’s 36-year-old daughter Geraldine thanked the Macmillan nurses for the immeasurable help they gave the family.

She said: “If we did not have the support of the Macmillan nurses there is no way mum and I would have coped.

“They were always there for us when we needed them.

“They gave dad the best care he could have had in the last few weeks and talked to us when things became difficult at the end.”

Laura says the nurses’ constant support and care encouraged her to raise money by running on behalf of Macmillan in memory of Paddy.

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Natalie Bridge, Macmillan fundraising manager for Birmingham and the Black Country, said: “Our target is to raise £75,000 which will enable Macmillan to help even more people affected by cancer and support them every step of the way through their cancer journey.”

More than 400 people have signed up to run for Macmillan Cancer Support at the Birmingham Half Marathon.

There will be a Macmillan marquee set up in Victoria Square with supporters in the Macmillan Cheer Squad cheering on the runners.

Click here to sponsor Laura.