So-in-love couple Katie and Harry Makly celebrated their first wedding anniversary this month – before Katie got back to training for one of London's top half marathons.
She will be running to raise money for the ME Association in the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 12th April, one of 11 runners in our power-packed ‘Team MEA’. And she’s smashing it already, having raised well over £1,000 so far!
“I used to run a fair bit years ago but, for one reason or another, didn’t keep it up. I saw this race advertised and thought now’s the time to get back to it”, Katie told us. “I’m on track with the training schedule and should be ready on the day”.
The couple met while students at York University and have been together since. They married last year at Westminster Synagogue in central London.
“Harry has had ME since he was 16 but only got his diagnosis five years ago. He’s the hardest-working person I know but some days can be difficult if he’s been overdoing it; he has to take time out to recover”, said 27-year-old Katie, who works in public affairs for the Blue Cross pets charity.
“I want to give something back to the ME Association for all the wonderful resources you publish online. To be able to put an authoritative leaflet in front of a decision-maker at critical times in Harry’s life has just helped take the pressure off us both. It’s been good to have you guys on our side.”
Harry (29) works as global community manager for Mem Global, a Jewish charity, which gives him opportunities to travel round the world. He’s recently been to Paris and Capetown.
“On any given day he deals with unpredictable fatigue, muscle aches, dizziness, brain fog, and annoying wife (although the last one isn’t caused by the ME to my knowledge),” Katie writes on their JustGiving page.
They took time off for their wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago, heading into Soho for some great food in a veggie restaurant followed up by a visit to a whisky bar. “It was lovely evening!”, she said.
If you would like to support Katie’s fundraiser, please click the link below:
Katie's London Landmarks Half Marathon
Fundraising for ME Association
Tony Britton
Senior Fundraising Volunteer, The ME Association
fundraising@meassociation.org.uk
