Preston mum running in memory of daughter for Epilepsy Action Facebook challenge

Carol Cebrero, from Preston, is running her way through lockdown, aiming to complete 100 miles in February in a fundraiser in memory of her teenage daughter.
Carol CebreroCarol Cebrero
Carol Cebrero

Carol smashed Epilepsy Action’s 50 Miles in February Facebook challenge – raising over £1,300 in the process and has now extended her target to 100 miles.

Her teenage daughter Bella died from SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) in 2018.

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Carol said: “I lost my beautiful daughter Isabella aged just 16 in June 2018 to SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

“It all started when Bella was around seven years old. She kept falling over, then she would have these strange jumps. These increased to night seizures, which then increased to tonic-clonic seizures. After countless trips to the hospital, and drug after drug, our only hope was surgery. So, then we started all the necessary tests.

“She was getting worse and was practically housebound for the last year of her life. She denied having anything wrong with her, she would never say the word ‘epilepsy’. She just wanted to be like every other teenage girl, into makeup, Snapchat and all the other stuff girls her age were doing. Instead, she was black and blue from all the seizures.

“June 15, 2018 was a hot sunny day and Bella was at home. My son, Joe, rang me to say he could not get in the house. I then left work to go home to let Joe in. I went upstairs shouting for Bella, to say ‘why wouldn’t you let Joe in?’ Then I found the bathroom door locked. My heart just sank – I knew. I had to break down the door, and there, submerged in the bath, was my beautiful 16-year-old daughter Bella – gone from my life forever. An inquest confirmed the cause of death was SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

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“I run regularly to help with my grief. I miss my girl so much, the pain can be pretty unbearable at times, so I like to keep busy.

“When I came across the Epilepsy Action challenge to run 50 miles through February, I thought that would be great for me to take on. I set up the donation page on Facebook and within a few hours the £150 target was smashed – the donations were coming in thick and fast (currently raised £1,300)!

“I decided to up the ante to run 100 miles through February instead. Epilepsy has overshadowed a good few years of my life and I strongly feel more needs to be done. My hope is one day there will be a cure for this heart-breaking condition.”

Carl Foster, fundraising events manager at Epilepsy Action, said: “We’ve been blown away by people like Carol, and the response to our 50 Miles in

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February challenge. With so many events impacted by the pandemic, these new virtual challenges are vital to charity income. Everyone’s fantastic fundraising achievements will ensure that Epilepsy Action can be there to help more people when they need it most.”

People can donate to Epilepsy Action here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/252384876304396/

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