THE mother of a seven-year-old who died of meningitis will run a half-marathon to raise money for the hospital which tried to save his life.
Rio Wild Redwood, a pupil at Woodside Primary School, died in January, despite the best efforts of Evelina Children's Hospital in Lambeth.
In a fortnight's time, his mother, Jo Wadley, will run further than she has ever attempted before, after what she described as the longest eight months of her life.
"I can't put my feelings into words," she said. "The pain has been unimaginable, but having something to work towards has given me something to focus on. It's kept me going.
"After Rio passed away, it was my inspiration. I wanted to do something for Evelina, where he spent his last hours.
"The staff were fantastic. I felt I had to do something to help them and other families who may be in a similar situation."
Rio first fell ill with a temperature and a headache in the early hours of January 5. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he was taken to the Evelina, where he was diagnosed with meningococcal disease, a serious bacterial infection.
He was placed in an intensive care unit, but died on January 6.
A few months later, Jo was approached by a friend who suggested they take part in the Run to the Beat event in Greenwich, held on September 8, to raise money for the hospital and Meningitis UK.
"As soon as she suggested it, I knew it was what I wanted to do – even though I've had no running experience at all," said Jo, who is running with friends as part of Team Rio.
"I thought it would be no problem at all, but pretty soon I realised 13 miles is an incredibly long way. But we're nearly there.
"Training involves getting up at five in the morning, before my husband goes to work, and doing five or six miles before the household wakes.
"I'm doing that maybe three or four times a week and then a long run at the weekend, now up to 11 miles. I have every faith in myself – and my girls."
That belief is shared Jo's mother, Maureen Wild.
"I can't tell you how proud I am," said Maureen.
"She has been marvellous. It's been so hard for her but this has given her something to focus on.
"No-one knows really what you go through when you lose a child. Jo is very strong-willed but she needed something to focus on and this was the ideal thing to do, because it's for Rio and the hospital."
After Rio's death, Jo described the Tottenham-mad little boy as her "angel and shining star".
Thanks to sponsorship from friends and family, she has already raised £1,000 for Meningitis UK and hopes to recoup even more for the hospital.
"He would have been so, so proud," she said. "He was a real sporty child.
"He liked to see those around him doing well and achieving. He would have been over the moon, especially doing it for him. He would have been chuffed and I know that he will be when I finish."
To donate to Jo's cause, visit www.justgiving.com/angelrio
