2:02pm Saturday 4th April 2009
If you had told Karen Mascoll nine years ago that she would be running the London Marathon she wouldn't have believed you. She had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and faced an uncertain future.
But she refused to let the disease get her down and set about concentrating her efforts on raising money for people in a similar position, culminating in this year's attempt to run the 26.2mile course.
"My aim is to raise £85,000 for the MS Society," Karen said. "That's a pound for every MS sufferer in the UK. It is not going to be easy but I hope to complete it in eight-and-a-half-hours, that will depend on the weather and how my body holds up."
The mortgage administrator has lived in Croydon all her life and already completed a tandem sky dive for the MS Trust and abseiled down Lunar House for the Garwood Foundation - a Croydon based charity providing support for people with cerebral palsy and related disabilities.
She has also done a fun run, helped the MS Society buy a new ambulance, and even organised a world record attempt for the amount of people impersonating Groucho Marx at the same time, all in the name of charity.
"I don't do these things for the recognition," she said. "I do it for the good of doing it. The main thing that is important to me is helping others."
Celestine Agbo nominated the mum of two who lives in Davidson Road. He believes she deserves all the recognition she gets.
"Karen is simply one of the most amazing people I have met in Croydon," he said, "Irrespective of her own health issues she works hard to support the lives of others in her fundraising and charity work. She is a true inspiration to many."
On being told the news that she had been nominated as Croydon's Charity Volunteer of the Year, Karen was surprised but also wanted to praise Celestine for the help he gives her.
She said: "I'm a little shocked and stunned to be honest, but it is very nice. I think Celestine should get some credit though, he has been amazing. He has helped me with a lot of my training and will run the marathon with me."
If you want to donate to Karen's marathon run please visit justgiving.com/CroydonKaren.
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