Wylam runner ready to take on half-marathon

Sep 18 2010 The Journal

SIX weeks ago Andy Haddon was hours from death, but tomorrow he will line up for the Great North Run to say thank you for his life.

Andy, 48, from Wylam, Northumberland, collapsed with a perforated appendix and underwent surgery at North Tyneside General Hospital after an emergency dash from Hexham Hospital.

When he came round, he was gently informed that he had been within eight hours of dying.

But now he is fit again and raring to go with the Great North Run place he won in a Journal ballot and will be showing his gratitude by running the half-marathon to raise funds for Northumbria Health NHS Foundation Trust.

“One of the nurses at North Tyneside General Hospital said I would have died in less than eight hours if I hadn’t been operated on,” said grateful Andy, an innovation manager at Newcastle Science City.

Andy, who lives with partner Gail in the Tyne Valley village, had stomach ache for three days before finally fainting with the excruciating pain. He was taken to Hexham General Hospital where the diagnosis was made and he was given morphine in the ambulance en route to North Tyneside, where surgeons operated.

Now Andy, who also thanks Gail for her valuable support, is returning the favour by raising money for projects on dementia, from which his mother Jean suffers. He said: “I wasn’t thinking about doing the Great North Run for charity but after the excellent care I received in hospital, I decided to do it for the Hospital Trust which kept me alive.

“The care was outstanding – I had every confidence in the staff and I felt in safe hands. Everyone did a great job and to be feeling fit and well come the next morning was tremendous.”

To sponsor Andy, log on to www.justgiving.com/Andy-Haddon  or phone the Health Trust on 0191 203 1351.