Caroline Witkowski

Bereaved Belvedere mum takes on London to Brighton challenge

Robin Cottle, Reporter Thursday, April 19, 2012
4:04 PM

Belvedere woman Caroline Witkowski is taking on the London to Brighton Challenge in memory of her mum and brother next month.

The 29-year-old, who lives in Nuxley Road, lost both her relatives to asthmas complications and is running the gruelling 100km trek, which takes place over the weekend of May 12 and 13, to raise money for Asthma UK.

Ms Witkowski said: “Their deaths have devastated me and my dad.

“We are fairly close but we never talk about my mum or brother because it’s just too upsetting so we just get on with out lives.”

She lost her mum Susan to the condition in 2002, aged 47, while she lost her brother just four years later in 2006 at just 27 years of age.

The mum of one will be taking part in the event with her close friend Jemma Zalot-Sankey, 34, who lives in north Wales

She said: “I think my mum and brother would be very proud of me and I ran the London Marathon in 2010 to support the cause.

“I was naive in thinking you couldn’t die from asthma, but now I know that someone dies from it every seven hours in the UK and it’s my aim to create awareness about that.”

Civil servant Caroline has been preparing for the big weekend by wallking her six-month-old daughter Lily 10 miles every day in her pram.

Head of events at Asthma UK Helen Olszowska said: “We are behind Caroline and Jemma every step of the way in this tough event.

“Their hard work is for a great cause because they will collectively raise more than £24,000 for the charity, which will help the almost five and a half million people living with asthma in the UK.”

To support Caroline and Jemma visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/JemmaandCaroline.