Ava’s fight for life inspires village runners

Caddington Village School pupil Ava Mear, 4, has inspired the team to take on the challenge after she was rushed into the hospital at the end of January, having suffered four heart attacks after picking up the worst form of strep A infection. The four-year old was brought back to life and placed on an ECMO machine, avoiding the possibility of a foot amputation after making a miraculous recovery.

She remains in intensive care after undergoing a tracheotomy on Monday.

To raise funds for hospital equipment a group of five parents are to run 31.5 miles from Caddington village green to Great Ormond Street in London on Sunday May 18.

Donations will add to a fund set up by Ava’s father Clive, which has now raised more than a tenth of its £80,000 target.

Runner Lynn Russell, 41, said: “As parents we have been hit quite hard by what has happened to Ava. The main topic of conversation in the village has been on her condition and the fund to raise funds for the hospital.”

She added: “I previously ran the London Marathon in 2011 but it is the first time for the other four runners, we’ve now realised how tough it will be. That said we are sticking to a programme and training is going well at the moment.”