North Suffolk teenager running London marathon for charity set up after friend suffered cardiac arrest
Maisy Cousins is running for charity, 'Heart 2 Heart Norfolk', which raises money to install defibrillators
A 19-year-old from Beccles is running the London Marathon for the first time to raise money for a charity set up after her friend suffered a cardiac arrest.
Maisy Cousins, who is running for Heart 2 Heart Norfolk said: “In college I met one of my closest friends, Violet, and when she was seven, her heart stopped in her sleep. Since then her mum has made Heart 2 Heart.”
“For me, running the marathon was this huge thing and I was so nervous for it. I was talking with my mum, and she said I didn’t need to run for a big, national charity, but choose one that’s more local and closer to my heart.”
Since heart 2 Heart was founded in 2016 by Violet’s mother, Jayne Biggs, the charity says it has just installed over 300 defibrillators in schools and communities across Norfolk and Suffolk. They also teach CPR and how to use the defibrillators.
"It will be very emotional, very exciting as well"
Maisy said: “I got in touch with Jayne and spoke to Violet about it and it all made sense as to why I was running. It was that extra bit of push. I’m doing it for something really important, not just to me but the local area.”
She continued “I’ve lived here since I was a baby and it’s very important for so many people. Heart 2 Heart has a lot of personal meaning for me and so many people around me.”
Maisy said she is the last member of her close family to run the marathon but was the only one to get a place this year.
She said: “I was really nervous but I thought it would be such a fun challenge. It will be very emotional, very exciting as well. It’s my first ever marathon, I’m a beginner at running, so it’s very nerve-wracking but very exciting as well to go straight in the deep end.”
"My aim is to get to the end and have fun doing it"
Maisy has been training while at university in Essex which has presented some challenges but also provides a welcome break from university life.
She said: “It’s been a bit difficult because I’ve moved to uni. I’ve been running in a completely different place. But the people around me have been messaging me every time I do a run. That’s been so helpful.”
She added: “It has been nice as well to go on a run and have that break from the weirdness that is uni.”
Maisy said she has not set a target time but is just hoping to finish.
She said: “My aim is to just have the best time and I think it will really help if I get my target goal and seeing my family around – that will just make it the best time. My aim is to get to the end and have fun doing it.”
The 44th London Marathon is taking place this Sunday morning.