A Wigan mum and son are to take on the London Marathon together
A Wigan mum and son are heading to the capital this weekend for a double charity challenge.
Local Slimming World consultant, Carol Littler and her plumber son, Josh from Billinge, are taking on the iconic London Marathon, raising money for Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
It is 56-year-old Carol’s 13th race and 31-year-old Josh’s debut.
This charity is close to both their hearts as 24 years ago, Carol’s other son and Josh’s brother Tom, was diagnosed with T1 diabetes when aged just two.
Breakthrough T1D carries out research with an aim “to transform T1D management and cure it.”
This includes manufacturing cell therapies that cure T1D at large scale, with reduced or no immunosuppression so many more people can benefit from them.
Carol, 56, said: “The London Marathon and the charity have been a huge part of my life since I first ran in 2013.
“This year it’s an absolute honour to be taking part with my son.
“I have no illusions he’ll be much faster than I am, but the whole atmosphere of the day is electric and I’m so proud that we’ll get to experience it together.
“We can’t fix Tom’s T1 diabetes ourselves but hopefully by doing what we can for the charity will mean that one day, hopefully in Tom’s lifetime, we will have a cure.
“I’m also a member of Team Finish Together, so once I get round, I’ll be going back to the finish to support the final finishers across the line.
“When The Mall closes, the alternative finish line opens in St James’s Park and we stay until midnight.
“These finishers are what makes the marathon for me.
“The grit and determination of those out on the course for seven, eight, nine, 10 hours is amazing and we aim to give them the finish they deserve when the big crowds have packed up and gone home.
“We get to hear their stories and the reasons they run and it’s so humbling.
“A group of us launched Team Finish Together back in 2023 and in conjunction with working with the London Marathon team, our supporter crew has grown bigger and bigger and the facilities better and better each year. Initially from just a handful of us back in 2023, to several hundred last year.’
Look out for Carol and Josh on the day and if you’d like to support them, here is their team charity link -