Leeds girl born with liver disease inspires children to take part in fundraising run challenge

Ada Butterfield and her mum Emma, of Allerton Bywater, have decided to each run a total 20 miles in February to raise cash for the Children's Live Disease Foundation.

Emma said more and more parents and their children from the village and surrounding areas have signed up to take part after finding out about the the virtual fundraising run challenge.

Dozens of parents and 160 children have so far pledged to take part independently, including 40 children from Ada's school, Lady Elizabeth Hastings Primary School in Ledston.

The Butterfield family has raised a total of £48,000 for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation by staging a wide range of fundraisers and run challenges since Ada was born with rare liver disease, biliary atresia.

The disease means she will need a lifetime of treatment and possibly a liver transplant.

Emma and Ada's dad Mick have both previously run London Marathons.

Emma was due to run the London Marathon in aid of the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation in April 2020, but the race was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Instead, the family they staged a 2.6 mile running challenge in Allerton Bywater, which raised £4,000 for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation.

Villagers lined the streets to cheer Ada on as she took part the #TwoPointSixChallenge, an initiative to help save charities from folding during the lockdown.

Emma said she has been "overwhelmed" at the amount of support for the February 20 mile run challenge.

She said: "The aim was just to get a few kids involved. All the local sports have been stopped due to lockdown.

"This is going to encourage the kids to get out and keep fit and hopefully and rise money and awareness fior a good cause."

Emma said coaches and youngsters have got involved from Kippax Welfare Amateur RL Club and Allerton Bywater Miners Welfare Football Club.

It is £5 to enter the 20 miles in February challenge and each participant will receive a certificate and a medal.

Emma said local businesman Liam Hourigan, who runs Glasshus Facades Ltd, has offered to pay for the medals.

Alison Taylor, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, said: “We support families throughout the UK who are affected by childhood liver disease and, like all charities, the pandemic has hit us really hard.

"We are therefore incredibly grateful to Ada and Emma for coming up with this wonderful idea and inspiring so many people to take part.”

To sign up for the challenge, e mail Emma at [email protected] or go to her Facebook page under Emma Butterfeld.

Click here to donate to the JustGiving appeal.