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Plucky runner spurred on by Fit Club’s Julie

Jo Rostron
29/ 6/2005

A HEYWOOD woman with a crippling disease that left her unable to walk just a few months ago is now warming up to take part in the Race for Life.

Maggie Shraine of Rochdale Lane has battled anorexia since her teens and on many occasions has been hospitalised.

Years of being chronically underweight have taken their toll, leading to organ damage and a secondary illness fibromyalgia, a form of ME, that causes acute pain from head to toe and can leave her bed-bound for months

Despite this, plucky Maggie, 45, will be putting her best foot forward for the Oldham event of the 5km Cancer Research UK Race for Life on 10 July.

She said: "I am hoping the day of the race will be one of my good days. I will obviously not be able to run all of the distance and I will have to walk or jog but if I manage it, even if I have to crawl, it will be a mega personal achievement.

"I have worked very hard every day with my carer, who will be running with me, doing physiotherapy and exercises to break through the pain barriers."

And Maggie will be dedicating her battling efforts to someone she says has been a huge inspiration to her after overcoming cancer and triumphing on Celebrity Fit Club - Heywood personality Julie Goodyear.

The race gives competitors the opportunity to run in memory of somebody or in celebration of their life and Maggie said that Juile was an obvious choice for her.

"Julie has had a terrible time with illness and almost lost her life but she has always battled through and bounced back even stronger.

"She is charismatic and a woman of true grit so I want to take this opportunity to thank her for the inspiration she has given me."

Miss Goodyear's agent told the Advertiser that she was thrilled that Maggie wanted to do this for her.

"Keep it going Maggie and good luck," she said.

On top of raising money for Cancer Research UK, Maggie is hoping to promote awareness of anorexia.

"My eating disorder started in my early teens when I decided to lose my puppy fat by not eating too much food.

"I became obsessive with what I was trying to achieve but I truly was not aware of the consequences until it was far too late and now some of my organs are badly damaged."

The message she wants to get across is that youngsters looking to lose weight should seek professional help and she is willing to talk to schools or youth groups about her experience.

There is still time to sponsor Maggie - her form is available from Harry Gannon's butcher's stall on Heywood market.