Mum Anna Warrington has raised £2,200 for our Children's ward for helping her little girl Sophia who has epilepsy.

By the time Sophia was four months old she had spent a quarter of her life on the children’s ward at CRH.

Anna decided to run the Yorkshire Marathon in October 2019 to raise money for Sophia’s future needs and care and for the Children’s ward at Calderdale Royal Hospital.

Sophia had her first seizure at five weeks old and after many tests was diagnosed with epilepsy. When she was 9 months old she was diagnosed with genetic infantile epilepsy due to a defect in the SCN8A gene.

Anna adds: " This is a rare mutation and not much is known about the effects but we were told Sophia may never walk or talk. Sophia is making slow progress but she babbles a lot, crawls and walks supported by an adult but is full of mischief.

"The money raised has gone 50/50 to helping Sophia have the best life possible and to the children’s ward as a thank you to the amazing care they have given us."

Anna started running 20 months ago.

"I started a couch to 5k programme with my local running club thinking I would probably quit after a couple of weeks. I soon went from 5k to 10k to 10 miles. I completed the Great North Run half marathon, then stupidly signed up for the marathon! It was really tough and I never plan on doing another but well worth all the training hours and hard work to raise so much money for Sophia and the ward.

"I am really pleased I have raised so much and have been able to give so much back to the ward. It means a lot to me to be able to do it."