A REALITY TV star is running in the Brighton Marathon to raise money for a charity that helps people with her lung condition.
Priya Gopaldas, 24, found fame on last year’s series of Love Island and has been raising awareness for the charity Asthma + Lung UK.
As a teenager Priya was diagnosed with bronchiectasis, a lung condition that sees airways widen and become inflamed with mucus, resulting in regular chest infections and coughing.
Despite her lung condition, Priya is an avid runner, and has just returned from Sri Lanka where she competed in a five-day 250km Ultra Marathon.
She wants to inspire people with lung conditions to be active if they can and supports Asthma + Lung UK, which provides help to everyone with a lung condition through a telephone helpline, advice on its website and support groups across the country.
The charity also funds ground-breaking research and campaigns for better diagnosis and care and to tackle air pollution.
On Sunday, Priya will be running the Brighton Marathon to raise money for the charity.
Priya, a trainee doctor at University College London, said: “When I was 14, I was hospitalised with pneumonia and the damage to my lungs meant I developed bronchiectasis.
“I’ve always known that it’s a chronic condition, and that there’s no cure, but that has never stopped me from getting the most out of life.
“From an early age, I knew I wanted to manage my condition proactively and eating well and running have been key to that.
“I run five times a week, and usually cover between 10 and 20km on every run.
“There is this belief that people with lung conditions can’t be active, but it doesn’t always have to be that way for everyone.
“I love that running makes my body feel so powerful, and I can’t wait to join the rest of the Team Breathe team in Brighton, which has always been one of my favourite cities.
“Many of the runners are participating on behalf of loved ones, and we are all passionately committed to raising awareness of lung conditions, especially as the UK has one of the worst records for lung health in the whole of Europe2 which is shocking really, and I want to play my part in trying to change that.”
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