A YOUNG woman completed Sunday's Brighton Marathon as a way of saying "thank you" to devoted charity workers who cared for her disabled cousin before he died.
Chloe Evemy, 23, said she had always wanted to do something to give back to Chailey Heritage Foundation.
Her cousin Dan Oliver went to school at Chailey Heritage for five years where he received specialist care due to his complex disabilities.
His family says the charity helped give Dan more independence before his death in 2013, aged just 17.
On Sunday, Chloe completed her first marathon in four hours and 46 minutes, raising more than £2,000.
Chloe, a communications specialist in London, said: "Dan first went to Chailey Heritage back in 2007 when we all left primary school, and he absolutely loved it.
"Chailey gave Dan the chance to connect with people his own age and it meant so much to us as a family that he was happy there.
"He was one of many lives that Chailey Heritage Foundation has helped to change.
"He could swim, paint, and talk about the car wash to his heart's content.
"Despite the pain that complex disabilities such as Dan's can cause, every time I see him and in every picture, he is smiling, which is very special.
"What Chailey did for Dan, and still does for children with complex disabilities is just amazing. I just wanted to say thank you."
Chloe was joined by 15 family members and friends for Sunday's marathon, all wearing personalised t-shirts and holding signs.
The family lived on the Kent-Sussex border, which is why Chloe and her relatives first became connected to Chailey Heritage Foundation.
It was third time lucky for Chloe running in a marathon.
She said: "I first signed up for the Brighton Marathon in 2019 but then came lockdown, and also I had an injury as well, so it was great to be running out there on Sunday in beautiful sunny surroundings."
"I had set myself a target of under five hours, so I was over the moon with my time, and it was great to have supporters motivating me along the way."
You can still sponsor Chloe and help Chailey Heritage: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chloeevemy
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