An East Kilbride gym owner is hoping to raise money to fund treatment for local boy Cole Thomson by running a marathon around the town next month.
Kris McSherry of Funktional Fitness, one of his coaching staff and six members have all been training hard since the start of the year to prepare themselves to run 26.2 miles around East Kilbride to help pay for the essential medication little Cole Thomson needs keep his epilepsy under control.
Kris has set up a fundraising page online with an initial target of £3000, but the personal trainer is really hoping to raise £5000.
Kris told the East Kilbride News: “One of our members is friend’s with Cole’s mum, Lisa, and she told us all about Cole’s condition and the fight Lisa has every day in sourcing the treatment for her son.
“Despite the efforts of Cole’s mum and her endless campaigning the NHS still won’t fund the CBD treatment for Cole or give this medicine under an NHS prescription so Lisa has to pay about £1000 every month to keep her son safe.
“Obviously due to the coronavirus pandemic over the last year it has been very hard for Cole’s family to organise any fundraisers to help with Cole’s medicine.
“Our initial target is £3000, but I’d like for us all to be able to raise £5000 so that we can provide five months of treatment for wee Cole."
Cole was diagnosed with a rare form of drug resistant focal epilepsy at just three months old.
At the age of two, Cole underwent brain surgery and has been on over 20 different medications since he was diagnosed at three months to try help control his symptoms but all were eventually unsuccessful.
Lisa now has a private prescription for Cole for a Bedrolite oil which is whole plant oil and Cole is doing well with this medication.
However, this drug isn’t funded by the NHS and Lisa needs to shell out £1041 per month to keep Cole on the oil that saved his life.
Kris and the team are currently training three times a week for their marathon on Saturday, April 3, and despite COVID and lockdown restrictions, each individual is progressing well.
Kris added: “The weather has made training tough. The snow, ice and strong winds have been a challenge.
“And some people in the group have had to self-isolate due to COVID, so training has had a few challenges along the way.
“But everyone is on track to complete the marathon on April 3.The route hasn’t been 100 per cent confirmed yet, but we will start and finish at the gym, running around East Kilbride to gather the miles.
“On the day, it would be great to have some people cheer us on along the way, all socially distanced of course.
“But, if anyone will get us over the finish line it’s Cole, knowing we can help him will be a huge motivation for us – he really is an inspiration.”
Cole’s mum, Lisa Quarrell, told us: “I am so delighted Functional Fitness wanted to raise money and much-needed awareness of Cole’s campaign.
“My friend Katie Godfrey contacted me to chat through their idea –I’m not sure what made me happier; them doing a marathon for Cole or the fact I didn’t need to join them.
“I’m over the moon and I will be there on the day with my boys cheering them all on.”
To donate, head to uk.gofundme.com/f/funktional-fitness-marathon
