Kirsty's in the running (From Winsford Guardian)

Kirsty's in the running

1:30pm Thursday 3rd February 2011 in News

A WINSFORD woman is in training to run a half marathon to commemerate a popular Winsford girl who died from epilepsy a year ago.

Kirsty McCormack, aged 27, will run the Staffordshire Half Marathon on Sunday, March 20, in memory of Lian Thomas, who died of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) in January 2010 and to raise funds for the charity Epilepsy Bereaved.

Lian was just 25 when she died, leaving behind a three-year-old son.

Kirsty, who’s brother Craig is the father of Lian’s son, said: “I’m doing it for my nephew, so that no other child loses a parent to this again.

“Not many people have heard of SUDEP. I’d never heard of the condition until it was explained at Lian’s inquest.

“She wasn’t born with it, it could happen to anyone, so it’s really about trying to raise awareness.”

Epilepsy claims more than 1,000 lives in the UK each year and most sudden deaths occur in young adults who are in general good health.

Epilepsy Bereaved aims to prevent these deaths by funding research, raising awareness and lobbying politicians.

It also offers bereavement support to those affected by an epilepsy related death.

Kirsty, who works at Graffix hairdressers and the Old Star pub in Winsford, has already manged to raise more than £250 for the cause.

She added: “I’ve never ran a race before in my life.

“I’ve only been training since the New Year and finally got up to six and a half miles with seven weeks training to go.”

To help her raise even more for Epilepsy Bereaved, sponsor her online. Click on the link below.