Arena attack survivor from Holmes Chapel to have starter role at Manchester Run

Freya, 15, was seriously injured in the Manchester Arena bombing, and is to take part in the run almost a year to the day of the attack.

Freya, from Holmes Chapel, will also be given an honorary starter role at the event on Sunday, May 20.

She be joined by her dad Nick, who is taking part in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run 10k.

Freya and Nick are running in support of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity, for which they have raised more than £24,000 since the attack.

The Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run takes place two days before the anniversary of the attack, in which Freya suffered multiple fractures, lacerations and burns after being hit by shrapnel at the Ariana Grande concert.

Her friend and classmate at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, Nell Jones, was killed in the explosion.

Organisers of the run have given Freya an honorary starter role, before she takes on the event herself.

Dad Nick, 52, will also take part in the 10k in the afternoon, after he started running again following the trauma of his daughter being involved in the attack.

He said: “On May 22, 2017 our lives were changed forever when our youngest daughter, Freya, was seriously injured in the MEN Arena attack; her friend Nell was tragically killed.

“For the next five weeks Freya was cared for by the wonderful staff at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and continues to be an outpatient there.

“She was hit by shrapnel and received burns, lacerations and fractures. It was an unimaginable situation.

“Prior to then I enjoyed running for exercise and regularly ran two to three times a week.

“After the attack I tried to run on one occasion when I was struggling, but it’s a time that I tend to think, and I found it impossible to cope with the memories and my emotions.

“I didn’t run again in 2017, but after speaking to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity I decided I wanted to be involved in their fundraising this year.

“I was torn between the desire to do something that could help the hospital and my concern for my state of mind.

“But I decided to enter the 10k as something to aim for, and found that running now helps me deal with the emotional side of things.”

Since then Freya and her family have been dedicated to fundraising for the charity, with thousands of pounds being raised for the paediatric intensive care unit at the hospital, with a day of running in Manchester for all ages being their next challenge.

Freya’s family said they have been amazed by the generosity of friends and family since setting up the fundraising page for her.

Nick added: “On May 20 I will be running around Manchester, and when I do so I will be thinking of the 22 people who needlessly lost their lives on that horrific night.

“I’ll also be thinking of their families and the hundreds of people who were injured and affected by that atrocity.

“In early March Freya decided she wanted to take part in the Junior run. She was due to have surgery the previous week, but the hospital has kindly deferred, so she is able to take part.

“We are so incredibly proud of Freya and she amazes us more with every passing day. We are very glad that something positive has come out of a horrendous situation.

Jessica Ruth, events manager at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity said: “Freya is a remarkable young lady, who has been through so much, yet continues to think about how she can help others.

“We are honoured that she will be running for us on the day and fundraising for our Children’s Hospital. Freya is truly an inspiration and we can’t wait to cheer her across the finish line.”

To support Nick and Freya’s fundraising for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity visit justgiving.com/fundraising/nicholas-lewis4 The donations have already beaten the £1,000 target, with the total currently standing at £1,055.

To enter the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run or the Simplyhealth Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run visit Greatrun.org/Manchester