Great South Run 2018: Family unites in bid to reach Malaya's funding target

Malaya Rose from Portsmouth suffers from Quad Spastic Diplegia Cerebra which means she has tight muscles in her body making movement and coordination a real challenge from her.

She needs a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy operation to rid her muscles of spasticity and tone and enable her to be able to sit, stand, walk and play like a normal little girl.

Relatives and family friends laced up their running shoes to run ten miles in a bid to raise some of the £42,000 needed for her operation and post physiotherapy sessions which is not available on the NHS.

Mum Kristine Rose said: '˜The support we have had from everyone is unbelievable. Malaya, her dad Buster and I were high fiving all the runners as they ran past and everyone was taking the time to high five her back which was really lovely.'

Kristine posts about Malaya's day to day routine and her progress.

She said: '˜Malaya recently had a major hip operation which she is recovering from and I think it is really important to let people get to know her because at the end of the day we are asking for their help with fundraising so I think it is nice to share her life.'

Friend Leilani Cleaver and her son Elijah ran the mini race on Saturday and  Jamie Appleby, Maria Appleby, Rosie May, Grandad Tony Neil and Joey Huggett all ran the main race on Sunday.

Leilani, 30, said: '˜She is a really lovely little girl and absolutely adorable and we think it is so important that she gets the operation that she needs.

'˜So far we have raised more than £26,000 overall with events like this and we have held car boot sales, garden parties, hikes and Jamie shaved his beard which is amazing because he loves his beard.

'˜Everyone is doing everything we can to raise the money '“ it is a real family and friend effort.'

Elijah, 5, added: '˜I am running for my friend Malaya and I have raised £400 for her.'

The team of runners were among 20,000 others who ran in the sunshine yesterday and passed city landmarks including the HMS Victory along the running route.

Jamie Appleby said: '˜I have a broken rib but we have done this race in order to get closer to our fundraising goal and help Malaya.'

Mum Marie Appleby was also injured after pulling her ankle during practice runs but fought through to finish the race.

The 56-year-old said: '˜Malaya is the most beautiful youngster and she really needs and deserves to have this operation and it is amazing to run for her and raise the money needed.'