Consultant Cleft and Maxillofacial Surgeon Vicky Beale completed the London Marathon in an amazing personal best (PB) of just three hours 59 minutes – and, she has more than doubled her fundraising target for the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA).
“I specialise in cleft lip and palate surgery at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and wanted to run in support of CLAPA because it’s an amazing organisation. I have personal experience of the incredible difference CLAPA makes to my patients.
“I wasn’t sure if I would manage to finish in under four hours, but I ran over 1,500 miles in training in the 12 months leading up to the marathon with a peak of 50 miles a week. My pacing went to plan on the day and the sub-four-hour finish was an amazing achievement - official finish time 3hrs 59mins 5s!”
She explained that the postponement of the 2020 London Marathon meant she had been able to train hard for over 18 months, including a personal best in the Great North Run as part of the marathon build up.
“I had previously run the 2018 London Marathon in five hours and 35 seconds, and was determined this time to cross the finishing line in London with another personal best and raise as much money as I can to support the brilliant work CLAPA does.”
Vicky is a cleft surgeon based at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and CLAPA is a charity that is very close to her heart. She explains, “Like many charities CLAPA has had a really tough time financially over the past 18 months due to cancelled events and lost fundraising opportunities, so it was good to be able to give them a boost.
“I’m up to £2,905.25 in my fundraising – it would be great to get this over £3,000!”
Help Vicky get over her fundraising finishing line and ensure CLAPA gets the support it needs by donating here: bit.ly/2YoEwoe