In a tribute to the support we’ve given them, six family members and friends will be egging themselves on to run a half marathon in leafy Battersea Park this weekend.
Brothers Chris and Will Barnaville, sister Mary and family friends Harriet Townsend, Tom Dowling and Tom Ray – none of whom are regular runners – will be at the South London event on Sunday to put their best feet forward for the ME Association.
Chris told us: “In 2016, my brother Kieran was diagnosed with CFS and it fully paralysed him. He has since learned to walk, talk, attend online open university, and inspires everyone around him daily.
“He is now 21 and still struggles every day. But in 2016 he was paralysed and very close to death.
“We are now in a better place and the support he needs is manageable. He is even attending online uni with the course willing to provide him with all course material at the start of the year, so he has time to do the work at his own pace over the whole year.”
Battersea Park will be the setting for Sunday's half marathon. Inset: from the left, brothers Will, Kieran and Chris Barnaville at a recent clay pigeon shoot. Kieran's wheelchair is parked out of sight.
Chris (25), an account executive for a company which provides legal, tech and language services to law firms round the world, has just returned from a work trip to the United States.
“While over there, I did an internal TED Talk at a conference in front of 400 people to raise more money for this run and we are now well over £3,000! The talk was officially filmed and I am trying to get our host company to share this with you.”
“We chose the Battersea Park Half Marathon because it’s close to a middle point for us and, given Kieran’s issues with travel and energy, we have the best chance of him joining us at the finish line.”
“We also want to give something back to the charity that has supported us these past eight years.”
If you’ve read this piece and would like to support the Barnaville family fundraiser, please click on the following link:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-barnaville-1694621017789
Tony Britton
Senior Fundraising Consultant, The ME Association
tony.britton@meassociation.org.uk Mob: 07393 805566
