Charity champion to run London marathon after medical obstacles

A PROLIFIC fundraiser from Castlederg has made an unlikely medical rebound and is now set to take on yet another marathon for Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Only two years ago, Liam McHugh was on the brink of decrepitude, his heels succumbing to tens of thousands of miles of road running.

However, despite the ‘hot-poker’ pain that seared through his soles with every stride, Liam remained resolute that his fundraising would continue.

In three weeks, he will take on the London Marathon, hoping to take his grand fundraising total above the £350,000 threshold.

“At that time, I had just turned 60, I had raised over £300,000 for CF, and running was something that helped me keep my mental health in check.

“I spoke to the doctors and they said my running days were probably done, but I was determined to get back on the road eventually,” said the Castlederg man.

To try to reverse the damage he had done, Liam, who started running 32 years ago when in 1992 his daughter Rachel was born with the then life-limiting mucus-producing condition, got in touch with a physiotherapist.

“For the last couple of years, I have been working to strengthen the muscles around my feet, heels and knees, and it has made a big difference.

“The day I stopped running, I would say the pain was a six out of ten. Now it is probably a three or four out of ten. It is still sore, but it’s manageable.”

When asked why he runs, Liam’s answer was twofold.

“There is medication out there now that is nothing short of miraculous. For 90 per-cent of people with CF, including my daughter Rachel, it totally transforms their life.

“I know my charity work played a part in funding the research that helped develop that drug.

“However, there are still ten per-cent of people with CF for who there is no such medication. I hear from these people and their family members all the time, and they are telling me not to give up on them, not to forget them, and I am determined not to,” said Liam.

wellbeing

But in addition to Liam’s unusual instinct to make a difference in the lives of people he does not know, he also runs for his own wellbeing.

“When the pain got so bad that I could not run, I started cycling. I was doing over 200 miles a week, but afterwards I was just feeling okay. That’s grand, but it is nothing like the high I get from running. When I return from a good run and get a shower, I get out feeling like I could jump over the moon. It is amazing for my own mental health, and, no matter what other kinds of fundraising I have tried, nothing attracts attention and donations quite like the marathons.”

This year, Liam explained, has been a record-breaking one for the CF community.

“It used to be family members of people with CF doing marathons to raise money for research. However, because of the effectiveness of these life-changing drugs, it is now CF sufferers themselves. That is incredible. I have been in contact with some of these people and I will be meeting them over in London before the marathon.”

As well as that, Liam said that hundreds of women, who were once told their illness would mean they would never be able to conceive a child, have given birth to healthy babies.

“This all goes to show both the power of charity and medical research.

“Please, get behind me again this year and keep donating generously. There are still ten per-cent of CF sufferers that need our help. Let’s keep doing whatever we can to better their lives.”

To contribute to Liam’s fundraising drive, visit his JustGiving page ‘Liam’s London Marathon 2024 Fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Trust’.