Keeping Maddy’s memory alive

The London Marathon might have been postponed, but PHA UK supporter Sophie Morris is determined to keep on running for childhood friend Maddy Hardman. Here, she explains how their friendship group is keeping her memory alive by spreading awareness of pulmonary hypertension and raising money to support others.

Imet Maddy at secondary school, Maddy was due to have intravenous and as part of a group of girls treatment in January 2016 followed by who used to get the school bus a lung transplant later on in life, but in together each morning, we tragically lost her battle unexpectedly quickly became friends. and passed away on 29 December 2015.

She had the most mesmerising long, She was just 20 years old, two months flowing waist-length blonde hair, an away from her 21st birthday. incredibly angelic singing voice and a Her death was a complete shock to all quirky fascination with skulls which of us. I knew Maddy was sick but hadn't always used to make me laugh. comprehended the concept of losing her.

Maddy was one of those effortlessly Maddy's passing immediately made funny people and we spent many bus all of us realise how important it is to journeys travelling into school and not take life for granted and to always back home again in fits of laughter challenge yourself and try new things which left our stomachs hurting. while you are fortunate enough to have

But as we all moved away to various the opportunity to do so. universities and colleges across the With this firmly in our minds, we set UK, Maddy got sick. In December 2014 a goal to raise as much money for the she was diagnosed with pulmonary PHA UK as possible in memory of our hypertension. I'd never heard of PH but friend and to help others like her. was told it affected the heart and lungs. I imagined writing this having

completed the London Marathon which I've been training for over the last eight months, but sadly, due to coronavirus, that has been postponed.

I'd decided to challenge myself to run a marathon as when we were at school, the most exercise Maddy and I ever did was run from the sports hall to the school bus - via the canteen to buy a chocolate brownie!

We were not the most athletic group of girls, and many of us were made to go to fitness club at school after failing to run the cross-country route in a speedy enough time. Maddy of course, although she did not know it at the time, was impacted by her health condition. The rest of us were just lazy!

Starting from scratch following a leg injury, I almost completed the full marathon training plan and have so far raised over £1,000 for the PHA UK.

My wonderful Grandad made it his mission to collect donations from market stall traders, members of his community groups and even the local vicar. And with another few months to go until the marathon at least, I'm hoping to raise even more.

The training so far has been tough, particularly competing with Storm Dennis and Storm Ciara, but at the end of February I somehow battled the elements to make it around 18 miles.

I work as a political journalist, so fitting in running between key Brexit votes, a December general election and the initial outbreak of coronavirus has also been quite a challenge!

As upsetting as it was to hear the London Marathon would not be going

Chloe completed her first ever triathlon alongside her Dad for the PHA UK

One of Maddy’s oldest friends Elle faced her fears and took part in a skydive for the PHA UK

Kate, Sam and Rhiannon spent months training for their London to Brussels charity cycle ride

You can support Sophie’s fundraising for the PHA UK at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising sophiemorris21 ahead in April after all the training, at ticking along with small runs here Maddy with her friends Sophie having completed her first ever 10K race a month into her marathon training. the beginning of March I had begun to and there past our old school and have my doubts over running during Maddy's memorial tree - and am the pandemic and I'm glad that the looking forward to getting back to health of the nation has been put first. training as soon as it's safe to do so. together and are determined to continue

Despite my lack of belief that the But it's not just me running the to raise as much as we can to help others event would go ahead, I persevered marathon that has helped to raise who are in a similar position. with my training, and it was almost money and awareness for PHA UK. I continue to wear my PHA UK comical when Virgin Money announced Since Maddy's death, as a group of training shirts with pride while I go for the marathon's cancellation just four friends we have raised almost £10,000 some short runs around where I live and minutes after I arrived back home in her memory - from Elle crazily I can't wait to wear one on that London following my final 18 mile run! jumping out of a plane and completing Marathon start line, whenever the race

Although at first I considered still a sky dive, to Chloe completing a may be, to raise awareness for such a running 26.2 miles on the 26th April triathlon and Kate, Sam and Rhiannon fantastic cause. from my front door, I realised how cycling from London to Brussels. I am so grateful for the many kind important it was to follow the social Plus, Sophie has been selling her messages of support from members distancing guidelines and run limited amazing home-made candles and cakes over the past few months and will distances in quiet areas. Knowing that at our old secondary school's seasonal continue to update people with my those living with PH have been advised fetes and elsewhere. progress on social media. But for now, to shield reaffirmed this even more. Nothing we do can bring Maddy back, it's time for us all to take care and look

So, writing this in April, I'm currently but we have such wonderful memories forward to better times ahead.