Family fitness challenge in memory of Aria

Terry and Pooja Farish are walking 10,000 steps daily in September, and Terry is running the Heaton Park 10k on October 5 to support the charity that gave them final moments with their one-year-old daughter Aria.

In March this year, Aria was diagnosed with POLG, a life-limiting genetic disorder for which there is no known cure. Doctors explained to her parents that the condition was like having a faulty battery; Aria’s body was unable to replenish the energy in her cells to keep her alive.

The family from Barrow, were transferred from hospital to Francis House Children’s Hospice on August 8. The next morning with the sun shining through the curtains, Aria died surrounded by love in a comfortable homely environment.

In the days that followed, Terry and Pooja were supported by the hospice team, staying in one of the family flats and spending time with Aria in the Rainbow Room.

The family said: “Being at Francis House at that time was like a home from home when we couldn’t get home. The doctors thought Aria didn’t have enough time to get home to Barrow so when Francis House said she could come here we were so relieved. It was the environment we wanted for our bright little girl when she passed away.

“We felt supported as well. If we didn’t have Francis House available at the end I genuinely don’t know how we would have coped.

“Even during the night that Aria was going to be passing we sat with the two nurses at Francis House who were looking after us, talking to them and reminiscing not only of all the sad times but also the happy times.

“To be able to run through Aria’s entire life story with people we had literally just met, felt like we had family with us and we didn’t feel completely alone.

“While she was in the Rainbow Room her family also got to come and see her and see that she was resting.”

“We held Aria during her very difficult time but Francis House held us during our difficult time.”

“Francis House was there for us so that we could still be parents rather than sorting out things like the funeral and other arrangements.

“You don’t really think of children’s hospices until you need them. It’s not just end of life care of course; it’s during life even just giving the families a break or being around others in a similar situation.

“After everything Francis House has done for us we wanted to give back. We signed up for the September challenge which leads right up to the Heaton Park 10k on 5th October as we wanted to do something in Aria’s name.”

Terry is also in training for the Alton Towers Half Marathon on November 16, raising funds for the The Lily Foundation.

Francis House Children’s Hospice is the official charity partner of Run Heaton Park. Francis House supports the families of children and young people with life-limiting conditions providing the one-to-one support they need in their most challenging times.

Register to run for Francis House at Run Heaton Park here.