Victoria Fiebelkorn shares why she’s running the Bidwells Cambridge 10k in support of her ex-husband and good friend Rob, who lives with limb girdle muscular dystrophy. Their daughters Rosie, 19, and Florence, 17, are also taking part and they’ll be joined by thousands of others who have signed up for the 10k event in Cambridge town centre.
It’s important to raise awareness so that people can get the support they need
My ex-husband and good friend Rob lives with limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD). We’d never heard of it before his diagnosis and as it’s so rare, most people have no idea what it is. For me, it’s important to raise awareness so that people understand the impact it has on day-to-day life, and those living with a muscle wasting condition can get the help and support they need. That’s why I signed up to run the Bidwells Cambridge 10k.
Rob was diagnosed with LGMD around 16 years ago after going to the GP when he noticed a change in his arm muscles.
Rob explains: “The only way I can describe it is that my biceps dropped around the side of my arm. I went to my GP who referred me to a sports physio. They thought it was a trapped nerve so I was referred elsewhere and eventually I saw a neurologist who had a hunch that it could be a muscle wasting condition. A blood test confirmed this, but I had to wait for a biopsy to find out what type.”
“From Rob’s first visit to the GP, it took 18 months to get a diagnosis. Since then, the GP has been great at learning more about LGMD, but we’ve still never met anyone else with the same condition.”
Rob works as a landscape gardener and has found that he needs to adapt how he works as his condition progresses and impacts his strength and mobility. It’s a gradual decline. At first, it was just his arms, but now the muscles in his legs are impacted. He tries to avoid stairs, slopes and hills, or just takes them very slowly. I know he finds that work can be very tiring, but he’s determined to carry on.
“Our two daughters, Rosie, 19, and Florence, 17, are also taking part in the Cambridge 10k, along with their boyfriends Aaron and Ollie. We created the team ‘Run4Jeff’ as Jeff is a family nickname for Rob and we’re doing all this to help raise awareness and funds for the charity in his name.”
I’m a keen runner and have done half marathons before. However, Rosie and Florence are relatively new to running so I think it will be a challenge for them. They’ve never done anything like this before, but it’s great that we’re doing it together for Rob.
He was very moved when we told him about it and is going to be there on the day, along with our son Fergus, to support us all. I’ve never taken part in the Cambridge 10k before but it’s so close to us and now that I know it’s for Muscular Dystrophy UK, this certainly won’t be our last one!
Support the family's fundraising
By supporting Victoria and team ‘Run4Jeff’, you’ll be contributing to crucial research and support for individuals living with a muscle wasting condition.
Inspired by Victoria's story?
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