Former Stowmarket Town manager Paul Musgrove to run Manchester Marathon in support of seriously ill four-year-old from Walsham-le- Willows
A football club’s former manager is running the Manchester Marathon in honour of a seriously ill child.
Paul Musgrove, who lives in Stanton and was manager at Stowmarket Town, will be running on April 16 in aid of Elodie Waugh, a four-year-old from Walsham-le-Willows who has been diagnosed with aplastic anaemia.
Due to this condition, Elodie spent only eight days at home between July 2022 and January 2023 – with the rest of her time spent at various hospitals, including Great Ormond Street.
Aplastic anaemia is caused by bone marrow failure, leading to a severely weakened immune system.
Over the past year, Elodie has endured a bone marrow transplant, among other drastic treatments.
A fundraiser set up to cover the costs of family visits for Elodie – and to finance private counselling – has raised over £13,000.
Mr Musgrove, who once played with and managed Walsham-le-Willows, is friends with a relative of Elodie.
As he was already training for the Manchester Marathon, he decided to dedicate his effort to the Waughs.
As part of this effort, he has set up his own GoFundMe to support the family.
Mr Musgrove, a former semi-professional footballer, says he has always kept fit – but he has never taken part in a marathon on this scale before.
He said: “I’ve never done these distances. If I’m going to put my body through all this, I thought I might as well raise a bit of money for someone who really needs it.”
Elodie’s mother, Kayleigh Waugh, has praised Mr Musgrove’s dedication.
She said: “We’re just so happy that we’re being thought of by the community. Elodie’s story has touched lots of people’s lives in lots of different ways.”
However, Mrs Waugh also notes that there are many ways members of the public who want to help patients like Elodie can assist beyond financial contributions.
She said: "Money donations are welcome. However, if you're able, please consider giving blood and signing up to be a stem cell donor, as that is what has saved Elodie's life through this journey."
Mr Musgrove’s GoFundMe page is available here.