Laura Beadle, Home Manager at Henry Cornish Care Centre, and her husband James are running their first Oxford Half Marathon to raise funds for The Horton General Hospital Children’s Ward in Banbury.

In November 2020, Laura and James’s son, Lucca, just 12 days old, suddenly collapsed during a routine check-up at The Horton Children’s Ward. Diagnosed with a Coarctation of the Aorta, a serious congenital heart defect, Lucca’s heart and body were shutting down.
Thanks to the quick thinking and exceptional care of the doctors and nurses on duty, Lucca received the emergency life-saving surgery he desperately needed. Without their expertise and dedication, Laura and James may not have had their little boy with them today.

Almost five years on, Lucca is thriving, supported by regular follow-ups with the Children’s Ward to ensure his ongoing health and wellbeing.
Laura reflects: “Running is a part of who I am — it helps me stay grounded, strong, and connected to myself. If I can take that passion and use it to raise money for the people and services that saved Lucca’s life, then why not?”
Through Laura’s fundraising efforts, over £15,000 has already been raised to support local children and their families during some of life’s most challenging moments. The funds have been used to purchase a Virtual Reality (VR) kit and comfort and activity packs for children and families on the ward — small but meaningful ways to make a hospital stay a little easier.
Hospitals can be frightening, especially for children. Moments of distraction, comfort, or play can make a huge difference, and Laura’s fundraising is helping to provide exactly that.

OSJCT is incredibly proud of Laura and James for using their first Oxford Half Marathon to support such an important cause. Every step they take is a tribute to the care that saved Lucca’s life.

Go Laura! Show your support and donate via her fundraising page: https://oxfordhospitalscharity.enthuse.com/pf/laura-beadle