Andrew Morris ran the Great North Run in September 24 in memory of his partner Emily Harkleroad who passed unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism (PE).
“I fundraised for my partner, Emily Harkleroad who sadly died very suddenly on the 19th of December 2022 as a result of a pulmonary embolism. Emily was just 31.
“I chose to raise money for Thrombosis UK as I wanted to try and make a difference by helping to raise awareness around the symptoms of pulmonary embolism (PE), particularly in otherwise young, fit, and healthy adults. Often these individuals are overlooked, and this was something that directly contributed to Emily’s death.
“I ran the Great North Run as it’s such an iconic event and the atmosphere is fantastic – I’m also very lucky to have it on my doorstep, so it was the perfect choice for me. The day itself was brilliant, and everyone was so encouraging.
When I picked up my medal at the end of the race, one of the event staff saw my T-shirt with Emily’s picture on it and said,
“I’m sure Emily would be very proud of you.”
Which was such a lovely gesture, and I’ll not lie – left me in tears.
“I would encourage anyone running any kind of event to fundraise for Thrombosis UK, as their work is so important, and thrombosis can affect anyone. It is so important to raise awareness around the signs and symptoms of thrombosis so that early recognition can help others receive timely treatment and save lives.”
“Going forward into 2025, I would very much like to continue to fundraise for Thrombosis UK where I can. I intend on carrying out my own running challenge over the next year by running a Parkrun for each letter of Emily’s full name, Emily Harkleroad. This would encompass 15 runs in total, across the UK.”
