Marathon for Dungiven baby Bronagh

A BABY girl born with multiple complex medical needs, Bronagh Lavery is receiving treatment to prepare for heart surgery. She is fully dependant on a constant oxygen supply and is fed by a tube directly to her stomach, at just nine months old.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Mar 2012, 10:45 BST

Her parents, Dungiven couple Toni and Conor Lavery have formed ‘Team Bronagh’ with close family and friends to compete in the Belfast City Marathon in her honour.

The team are hoping to raise much-needed money by running the marathon on May 7 for a children’s charity which is very close to their hearts.

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The vast majority of Bronagh’s treatment, over the past nine months, has been through the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children which has meant many journeys and long stays away from home for Toni and Conor.

Mother Toni said: “The time spent away from home on the ward with Bronagh is exhausting but with the support and facilities made available through the Children’s Heartbeat Trust we have been able to deal better with the stresses of hospital life.

“The consultants, doctors and nursing staff have all been so helpful in keeping us updated with Bronagh’s progress and discussing her future treatments. Bronagh’s older sisters, Sinead who is five and Aoife who is three, have always been made very welcome by all the hospital staff, allowing them to share in Bronagh’s care and help us maintain as normal a family life as possible”.

“The Children’s Heartbeat Trust is a charity which provides practical and emotional support as well as on site accommodation for families of children with Heart disease receiving treatment in Clark clinic and the Cardiac ward in the Royal Hospital. The Trust also assists in funding top quality medical equipment and initiatives like the much needed MRI scanner for the Children’s Hospital.

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Father Conor said: “Team Bronagh is made up of eleven members taking on the Belfast City Marathon, I am attempting the full 26.2 miles along side ten runners from our friends and family who will make up two relay teams.

“I’m looking forward to starting the race beside my wife Toni who is running the first leg of the relay. We hope our efforts result in raising awareness and funds for the Children’s Heartbeat Trust and their amazing support for families like us”.

Team Bronagh’s fundraising can be supported by donating online at www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/bronagh. Northern Bank have also set up an account, which closes on May 31. The sort code is 950306 and the account number is 90059129 for anyone who would like to help.