Former Stowmarket manager Paul Musgrove runs marathon raising £6,000 for ill child of Walsham Le Willows

A former football manager crossed a marathon finish line with ‘pure determination’ and raised more than £6,000 in aid of a seriously ill 5-year-old.

Former Stowmarket Town manager Paul Musgrove, 41 from Stanton, completed the Manchester Marathon on Sunday, April 16 and raised £6,630 for Elodie Waugh, 5, and her family.

Paul, lovingly known as Muzzy, initially set out to raise £1,000 to support Elodie who was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia following liver failure and bone marrow failure last year.

She required a bone marrow transplant leading to many months at Great Ormond Street Hospital in isolation after rounds of chemotherapy - even spending Christmas in isolation away from her two-year-old brother, Oscar.

As a friend of Elodie’s parents, Kayleigh and Ali, Paul decided to run the marathon to support the family.

Elodie’s mum Kayleigh, 34, of Walsham-le-Willows, said she was overwhelmed by his efforts and although she isn’t sure how the money will be spent, they are looking at festive activities for a Christmas spent all together.

Paul said: “I started training in January through the dark nights in the wind and rain - it was tough, but it was a massive encouragement to be doing it for Elodie and the family.

“I’ve always kept myself fit over the years but I’ve never had the time to dedicate towards marathon training but I’ve always wanted to do one.

“During the run, the 15 mile mark was definitely the hardest point, knowing I had 11 still to go - and then I definitely hit the infamous 18 mile wall.

“I just had to go into pure determination mode to get through it - I thought of a lot of things, I thought about Elodie and what she’s been through and I thought about the loved ones I’ve lost too.

“That’s what got me through if I’m honest - it really was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Paul, who stepped away from managing in January, completed the marathon in four hours and 19 minutes.

Kayleigh was very pleased with his efforts and is looking forward to spending Christmas together as a whole family.

She said: “We’re just completely overwhelmed to be honest - it just goes to show what being part of a tight-knit community can do.

“Muzzy did so well and we’re just so happy to see the support coming through.

“We haven’t made any concrete decisions as yet to where the money will go - but after Elodie spent all of last Christmas in Great Ormond Street, I think maybe we’ll do some nice festive activities when she eventually can.

“It’s all about making memories as a family-of-four going forward now.”

Kayleigh added that blood donations and signing up to be a stem cell donor has saved Elodie’s life and implores people to sign up to these life saving registers.

Paul’s GoFundMe page is still available for donations and If you would like to donate, click here.

Paul added: “£6000 is amazing - I’m just so glad for Elodie and her family and I hope this money can go towards some fun times for them once she can get out from her isolation.

“I would really love to thank anyone who donated - every donation helps and even just sharing on social media has played a massive part in raising the money.”