Eight members of a family, four of whom have a rare heart
condition, have completed a run in aid of a charity that has
supported them.

Mum-of-two Lisa Corke discovered she had Long QT syndrome after
she suffered a cardiac at her home in New Road, Minster, in
May.

Her heart stopped for 55 minutes and the 24-year-old’s life was
saved by her husband Mick, who performed CPR.

Following her diagnosis, the rest of her family were checked out
and three members were diagnosed, including Lisa’s three-year-old
daughter Ellie.

Lisa, her parents Tracy and Alex “Mitch” Mitchell, sister Claire
Mitchell, Claire’s boyfriend Gareth Storey, aunt Daryl Sullivan,
Daryl’s daughter Charlotte Lowe and Ellie took part in a fun run at
Mote Park, Maidstone, on Saturday.oct 13

They raised more than £500 for SADS UK, which aims to get
defibrillators for every school. Ellie raised £105 on her own.

Tracy, of Highview Road, Minster, said: “Since their diagnosis,
SADS UK have helped us to get a defibrillator for Ellie, which
follows her wherever she goes and gives us all great peace of mind
should anything happen to her, but it is also there should another
family member need it.

“They’ve organised CPR and defibrillator training for us free of
charge. They’ve been a huge support to Lisa in coming to terms with
Ellie’s diagnosis.

“We can’t begin to tell you how much their support and help has
meant to us and now we want to give something back to them by
raising awareness about what an amazing charity they are and to
raise as much money as possible so their brilliant work can
continue to help other families.”

Mitch did the run with Ellie’s defibrillator on his back.

Craig’s big run to help Freya

The dad of a schoolgirl diagnosed with diabetes has taken
part in the Big Fun Run to raise awareness of the disease.

Five-year-old Freya Colecorr and her family found out she has
type 1 diabetes in January this year.

After her diagnosis, her parents Craig and Natasha, of Halfway
Road, Halfway, decided to launch an awareness campaign.

HGV driver Mr Cole took part in the event at Mote Park in
Maidstone on Saturday and raised £250 for Diabetes UK.

The 33-year-old completed a 5km circuit of the park.

Mrs Cole, 32, was pregnant with the couple’s son Thomas, now
five months, at the time Halfway Houses Primary School pupil Freya
was diagnosed.

She thought Freya, who will turn six next Friday, had a water
infection as she had started drinking a lot and going to the toilet
more and she then lost weight in about three days.

Mrs Cole took her to the doctors and they were referred to
hospital as Freya needed insulin right away. She now has injections
twice a day.

“At such a young age it was mind-blowing to find out,” Mrs Cole
said.

“It was a struggle at first but she’s got tons of energy and
she’s very bubbly and confident.

“She was more brave than I was about it.

“Freya goes to swimming, Rainbows and Badgers – we make sure it
doesn’t stop her. We want her to know there’s plenty of kids out
there that have it, so we really want to get involved with raising
awareness and funds because the NHS has to spend so much money
treating it.”