Karen’s London Marathon challenge for meningitis charity

A Spalding runner will be pounding the streets of London on Sunday to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

Karen O’Rourke (46) has set herself the gruelling challenge of competing in the London Marathon, in aid of the charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).

Karen, of Osier Road, who works in the town’s Sainsbury’s, will be running for MRF because two people close to her have been affected by meningitis.

She said: “In March last year my 22-year-old nephew contracted the W strain of bacterial meningitis. As a family we didn’t know much about this at the time, but we now know it’s a particularly deadly strain of the disease that’s been increasing in the UK. He was fighting for his life in a coma for four days.
“Thanks to the quick treatment in hospital he has made a full recovery and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
 
“My best friend Sharon Schokes had meningitis too, but thankfully she also made a full recovery.

“I want to raise as much money as I can for this charity to stop others having to suffer from this disease. I’ve raised more than £3,000 to date and would love to get to £4,000.

“I’m really grateful to my family, friends and local businesses for their continuous support. I couldn’t have done this without them. I am very excited now and ready to take on my biggest challenge yet.”

To sponsor Karen visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Karen-Orourke-Gray2.