Gruelling race in aid of Lilly

Kevin Cutler, 32, decided to run the Luton Marathon last weekend to raise funds to help with Lilly’s treatment after reading about her plight. The 23-month-old suffers with aggressive childhood cancer neuroblastoma, and her parents John and Dawn mounted a huge fundraising campaign for her treatment, which is likely to cost £300,000.

Kevin, of Pinewood Close, Luton, said: “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but so worth it.

“I’m not sure I’ll be doing another marathon again, but it felt great to finish it. My legs felt pretty stiff the next morning - going up and down stairs was hard work.

“I read about Lilly’s story and was really touched. I wanted to do something to help her and had always wanted to run a marathon, so decided to run it in aid of Lilly’s appeal.”

Kevin said one of his biggest challenges was fitting in the marathon training around his busy work schedule – on week days, he works in the GIS Windows factory in Luton and three evenings a week he works as a car park attendant the Skimpot Tesco store.

Lilly’s treatment is likely to continue until next spring, and even after her current course is finished, she may need future treatment and will need to return to America several times a year for testing.

Donations can still be sent via Kevin’s fundraising page, www.justgiving.com/kevincutler-lutonmarathonrunforlilly