Great Bristol Run 2022: Parents take on challenge after life-saving care for their daughter

A couple are taking part in this year’s Great Bristol Run to raise money in thanks of Bristol Children’s Hospital after their two-year-old daughter’s life was saved from a rare medical condition.

Arabella was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis after she suffered a massive inflammatory in response to tests after doctors had spent weeks trying to discover why she was sick.

Twenty four hours later, after going back home, she was back in hospital having contracted norovirus and on Christmas Day last year she was at her worse point, unable to finish her dinner without the need for treatment.

Now back at home and relying on daily injections, her parents Laura and Adam Powell are to raise money for the Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal, whcih is the fundraising arm of Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Laura said: “Now imagine everything Arabella has been through, but with no NHS? Imagine if we had to pay for medical care? The medication alone would be close to £650 a month, which is crippling for most people. Then imagine the cost of a month’s stay in hospital with multiple blood tests a day on top of that!

“This is why we want to raise funds for the hospital who cared for Arabella and the charity whose funding the hospital relies on. We’re so grateful to the NHS, all the staff and Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. The ones who dressed as elves on Christmas to make sick children smile and the nurse who treated Arabella in her first week, who tracked her down to her new ward to check on her. The doctor who came in on her day off with a present for Arabella, leaving her two young sons at home.

“And that’s only the start – it’s impossible to cover all the fantastic care we received!”

Adam will be joined by his brother Andy to take on the Half Marathon race, while Laura will run 10k.

The Great Bristol Run 10k, Half Marathon and Family Mile will take place on Sunday (September 25). Spaces are still available by visiting greatrun.org/Bristol.

You can donate to Laura, Adam and Andy in aid of Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wattsgorunning