Exactly #whoissarahpage? watch this video https://youtu.be/3hjpeWXTQ9o and come back to read her incredible achievement against all the odds.
Sarah set off from Winchester to run 100 miles across southern England to raise money for CCHS which is short for Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome
The last big challenge Sarah did for CCHS was in May 2019 - running 106 km for the Isle of Wight ultra. Last September, she ran the 60-mile challenge for Cancer Research and got the running bug back! So, Sarah started looking for her next challenge…
Sarah's gorgeous godson, Charlie, has CCHS, and Sarah's best friend and her husband have to do so much to keep Charlie alive every day. Charlie stops breathing every night, every time he has a nap, every time he concentrates hard. His survival means being attached to a mechanical ventilator. Sarah can't do much to support them in day-to-day life, but what she can do is complete crazy challenges and raise money for the charity that supports families like theirs.
CCHS is short for Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome. It’s a rare genetic condition affecting the automatic control of breathing. Breathing for most of us happens automatically - however in CCHS, the normal safeguards used by the nervous system to control breathing don’t work. Most CCHS people mainly experience symptoms when asleep, but some can also stop breathing or under-breathe when awake. The genetic mutation that causes the condition also affects digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.
Sarah has made the target big, because this is a big challenge... She would LOVE to raise over £5,000.
06.00hrs Saturday 10th June 2023 Sarah set off from Winchester, little did she know what was in store for her during the South Downs Way 100
Sarah had assembled a dedicated support group of friends, work colleagues and runners from local clubs to act as 'pacers'. The pacers were important support during the 100 mile as was Sarah's support team.
Our Company had already sponsored Sarah, but as the day unfolded and temperatures hit 28 degrees centigrade Sarah's performance was outstanding as she made her way up to to top ten leaders. Almost 400 runners started in Winchester and Sarah was showing the professional runners what she could do to support CCHS and more importantly her best friend and son Charlie.
With 65 miles clocked up it was clear to me that Sarah's incredible performance was something that I couldn't miss, so I jumped in our EV and headed off towards Newhaven athletics club to catch up at the last support point where Sarah would get the Formula One pit stop treatment from her support team just as it turned to pitch darkness. Well-rehearsed and executed, drink, banana, shoes check, tactics support from her trainer Andy. Sarah's partner Max had just warmed up and was ready to run the last 11 miles in the dark through some tricky terrain that catches even the professional in the day light.
Sarah was in 6th place out of almost 400 starters, Sarah had been running now for 17 hours. The question we were all asking ourselves was could she finish, could she be the first female over the line?
I drove to Newhaven Athletics track which was all flood lit and prepared to accept the remaining runners as they finished the gruelling 100 mile run. 140 runners has already dropped out of the race due to the heat and distance.
All of a sudden reality kicked in, Sarah was now in 5th place and almost at the stadium. With cameras at the ready we clocked Sarah and Max running through the avenue of crowd barriers into the stadium. Family, friends and her support team joined Sarah for the last 400 metres as she crossed over the finishing line - 100 miles run non-stop in 19 hours 31 minutes 55 seconds. What an outstanding achievement.
So #whoissarahpage? a very modest organised person who puts her mind to achieving and does exactly what it says on the tin.
Well done Sarah, well done Andy, well done Jo, well done the Pacers, well done the Support Team and thank-you to every one who supported Sarah, gave so generously and are still giving.
If you would like to be a part of Sarah's Just Giving Fund Raising journey you can donate any amount which collectively will make a big difference to children with CCHS - Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome
