Eight-year-old Worksop girl takes on 90-km challenge for Cystic Fibrosis wards

Bethany Kirby took on the challenge in honour of her cousin Charlotte Rodgers - who has suffered with the debilitating condition since birth.

The gritty youngster will have run 90km by the time she finishes on April 30 - though mum Kerry Kirby admitted Bethany was now weakening after more than 27 days.

She said: “It’s a lot for an eight-year-old - she has her ups and downs and with everything that’s going on she’s struggled with her own emotions at times.”

Bethany came upon the idea as a way of highlighting how isolating CF can be.

Kerry told how Covid-19 lockdown restrictions had brought home what her 28-year-old cousin went through on a daily basis - as many CF sufferers are in constant risk of infection from members of the public.

CF patients also pose a higher risk of infecting each other with, for example, bugs which could be potentially deadly to their lungs - already weakened by the condition.

As a result CF sufferers are forced to isolate from each other while on specialist hospital wards.

Kerry, 35, said: “As Charlotte was in hospital when coronavirus hit Beth asked if she could do anything.

“People that go into CF hospital wards can be there for long periods of time and have to isolate from each other.

“What we’re going through right now they have to go through all the time and that’s resonated with Beth.”

Six-year-old Retford songster records adorable version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Kerry told how Charlotte, 28, was now completely locked down at home while her partner helped change a stent supporting her weakened heart every day.

She said: “She is absolutely phenomenal - when she has a good day she does everything she can.

“Such an amazing young lady - she’s on a massive range of medication every day and is in and out of hospital.”

Bethany is raising money for Sheffield Hospitals Charity’s Cystic Fibrosis wards appeal.

To make a donation click HERE.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor