Daughter who lost well known Gosport dad to brain cancer prepares for London Marathon challenge
A daughter who lost her well known Gosport dad to brain cancer is embarking on running the London Marathon in his memory and to raise money for an “incredible” charity.
Kristy Nordkvelle has been training for months as she prepares for the gruelling 26 mile race across the capital on April 26. She is running to raise funds for Brain Research UK which funds research into neurological conditions that affect millions of people worldwide.
The 24-year-old, who says she’s “not a runner or sporty”, has decided to take the plunge around the same age her dad Andrew Coombs was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2000. He died in September 2011 aged just 36 - the day before Kristy turned 10.
Kristy said: “I recently realised that I’m now around the same age my dad was when he was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in October 2000. Despite everything he went through, he lived life with strength, courage and resilience.
“He was in remission from 2004 to 2010, but the tumour eventually returned, more aggressive and cancerous. There was no cure. In 2011, we lost him.
“Watching him fight such a devastating illness while still being the amazing, strong man I looked up to changed my life. I want to honour his memory and everything he stood for by doing something that makes a real impact.”
Kristy, who now lives in Norway with her mum Emma Nordkvelle and sister and brother, featured on the front page of The News when her dad became sick. She was described as “cool as a cucumber” when she saved her dad after he collapsed and had a seizure while looking after his three young children at home.
Kristy, who attended Bay House School and Itchen College, said: “I was aged eight at the time and heard a thud and went to go and see what was going on and he was having a seizure. I called the paramedics, put a pillow behind his head and supported him.”
Despite Andrew’s health battles, Kristy recalls the fond times they shared together. “He was just dad. We would still do things like going to the park and running around, though he would get tired sometimes,” she said.
“I remember him as outgoing and chatty. He was well known in the Gosport area and had his own car valeting business. He lived in the town for around 20 years and his brother still lives there. We try to go back and visit once a year.”
Trainee pilot Kristy now aims to raise £3,500 for Brain Research UK having been selected for the “incredible opportunity” out of 1.3m people who signed up to be picked. “My aim is to cross the finishing line. I plan on running for 25 minutes then walking for five minutes and so on. So far the furthest I’ve run is 10km,” she said.
And before Kristy started training around six months ago she had “never run before”. She said: “I’ve never been a runner, I’m not a sporty person. I couldn’t even run for two minutes before but now I can for 30 minutes. I have a training plan using an app that includes three runs a week.”
Kristy, who is running alongside a friend, added: “I know it will be challenging and will be one of the hardest things I’ver ever done. As long as I keep up the training and my fitness then hopefully I will be able to do it. My mum, stepdad and sister and some friends will be there and will meet us at different points which will help push me on.”
Speaking of Brain Research UK, Kristy said: “It’s an incredible charity that supports families. The research they do helps other families in lots of ways and with hospice care. I just want to get some awareness out there about them and brain tumours. They kill more people under 40 than any other cancer yet only get one per cent of government funding which is scary.”
To donate go to: www.gofundme.com/f/ahtb9q-in-memory-of-my-dad