Mum's marathon journey

Running Woman founder, Sarah Gibbs 
Featured in article by Newsquest (North West) in January 2016

A MUM-of-five who started running as therapy after she lost her baby son to cot death is now urging people to channel disco fever to help with her marathon fundraising.

Leftwich woman Sarah Gibbs is tackling the London Marathon in April in aid of Asthma UK and is holding a fundraiser at Davenham Cricket Club in March to help reach her £2,000 target.

Sarah, who coaches at Vale Royal Athletics Club, works at Cheshire Bar and Grill and is also one of the organisers of Davenham Carnival, only starting running two years ago but said it has changed her life.

"I started suffering from bad panic attacks after losing my son to cot death 12 years ago," she said.

"Anxiety and depression stayed with me until I took up running two years ago and it has really turned my life around."

She runs with her friends Kathryn Porter, a mum-of-three, and Karen Murray, a mum-of-two, who are also taking part in this year's London Marathon.

"It's like therapy for us," Sarah said.

"We watch the seasons throughout the year, last winter it was like Narnia running down the river, it was beautiful, quite cathartic.

"The three of us have got such a tight bond, I couldn't have done anything of what I've done without those two."

Sarah, who coaches under 11s at Vale Royal Athletics Club three times a week, has taken part in a number of races and events in the past two years.

These include the Manchester 10k, Warrington EHM, Conway Half Marathon, Anglesey Half Marathon, Tough Mudder, Race for Life, Montane 13, Liverpool Half Marathon, Asics Manchester Marathon, Helsby Half Marathon and the Cheshire Cross Country Championships.

She is running the London Marathon in aid of Asthma UK after seeing the impact of the condition on childhood friend Nicola Williams
.