‘It’s taken eight years for me to talk about it’ - dad to run marathon in memory of daughter
Ian Needham is running the London Marathon in support of the Lullaby Trust. A charity which supports bereaving parents. Picture: Ian Needham - Credit: Archant
A man who lost his child to cot death is preparing to run his first marathon in her memory.
Ian's three children, Ben, Emma and Kathryn pictured at Christmas in 2010. Picture: Ian Needham - Credit: Archant
Ian Needham, who lives on Norwich Street in Fakenham, lost his nine-week old daughter Kathryn in 2011.
He said: "It has taken me eight years to talk about this. It was such a taboo subject, no-one brought it up with me. I suffered from depression and anxiety because of it.
"In the past I had some dark thoughts. But, I wanted to be strong for the people around me."
Mr Needham is running the London Marathon for the Lullaby trust, a charity which provides grieving parents with counselling and support networks.
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He said: "I wanted to give something back and help to raise money so they can look at preventing it. I never want another family to go through what we did."
After separating from his partner, Mr Needham moved to Fakenham in 2018 with his two children and said it was a chance to kick start his life again.
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"Since we moved to Fakenham last September it has been positive," he said.
"My parents live here and we brought the children here on holidays. My daughter asked if we could move here, and dad with his magic wand made it happen."
Completing the London Marathon is something that has been on his bucket list for some time.
"I wanted to be fit for 40 and the marathon is something on my list," he said.
"It has been completely life changing for me. I have lost five stone and hope to get rid of another three before the marathon.
"My diet is full of fish and meat and I really miss cake. But, the less I have to carry, the better.
"In January I will up my training scheme and start running 12 miles a day."
Ian described his life as a "bit chaotic", running five miles five times a week, as well as having a job and looking after his two children, Ben aged 10, and 14-year-old Emma.
Ian fundraising goal is £2,020, for the year he is running in. He will run in the London Marathon on Sunday, April 26, 2020.
You can donate to Ian's cause at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/IanNeedham2
