A LICHFIELD man is preparing to run the London Marathon to help a charity working to fund hospital helipads.
Henry Teal will take on the challenge in the capital on 26th April.
He decided to support the HELP Appeal to support his friend Lesley Obee who lost her son, Tom, in a road accident.
After he was flown to Birmingham Children’s Hospital in six minutes – a journey which would have taken 40 minutes by land ambulance – Lesley decided to dedicate herself to supporting the charity so other families have the best possible chance when the unthinkable happens.
Henry said:
“Last year I met Lesley for a coffee and she asked if I’d run the London Marathon for the HELP Appeal this year. I said yes to help raise money for a cause that means everything to her, but also because this challenge connects deeply with my own past.
“When I was young, I witnessed an awful accident that took my sister’s life. It shaped me in ways I didn’t understand for years. The shock, the confusion, the emotions I couldn’t process.
“I’ve had my battles with my mental health, and I probably never truly acknowledged how much that accident shaped my outlook and emotions. Opening up to friends helped more than anything. It taught me to understand my feelings instead of burying them.
“Running has become a place where I can quiet the noise, silence those demons and feel free.”
People can donate to Henry’s fundraising efforts via his online fundraising page.
Lesley said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Henry for his courage, honesty and determination – and for helping us continue our mission.”
