Dad from Hartlepool does amazing 18-mile run to thank the hospital which saved his daughter's life

Paul O’Donovan, 35, ran from his current home in Durham to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. He did it after his daughter Lyla recently had her tenth surgery since she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 at the age of just three. Six of those operations were at the RVI.

Paul said he wanted to say thank you to the hospital for saving Lyla’s life ‘over and over again’.

He was joined on the journey by professional boxer Tommy Ward and their original hope was to raise £1,000 to buy arts and crafts materials for the children’s ward at the hospital.

But by the time the runners set off, the total had more than doubled the original target and stood at £2,051. It meant that computer equipment, toys and even a coffee machine for the nurses could be bought.

And after he finished the run, Paul told the Mail: “It was good. It was raining at first and we did the first eight miles quite quickly but then it started to get warm and we slowed down.”

Paul’s family, including wife Kirsty 34, daughter Lyla, waited at checkpoints at Chester-le-Street and near the Angel of the North, and were there at the hospital at the end.

Lyla, now aged seven, has also come through meningitis, been treated for hydrocephalus and had a shunt put into her head, all in the last four years.

Paul thanked everyone who donated to the cause and there is still time for people to donate.

To support Paul’s fundraising run, donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/run-for-lyla?utm_term=AM27dAK9W&fbclid=IwAR1-j2AqgMLZzGptXSAXuvXVKpHkO4u-Iqt0ERF2rhKcXd6336PWDcxYm-4

Lyla’s latest surgery at Newcastle’s RVI hospital on Friday, May 22, was carried out to try to reduce the number of dangerous and frightening seizures she regularly suffers.

Surgeons gave the go-ahead for the operation last month, which she was due to have in March, after she was tested for coronavirus.

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