Boy to join run after winning race for life

FIGHTING-fit miracle Woody Lander is training for a charity run after stunning doctors to win the race of his life.

They had battled apparently in vain to save the youngster, then only two weeks old, after he suffered a massive heart attack and stopped breathing for 30 minutes.

A nurse passed him to his parents Jon and Karen, of Pudsey, Leeds, but as a tube was pulled from his mouth so they could kiss him, he suddenly coughed.

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Tests found a narrowed artery in his heart, triggering a six-hour operation in the children’s heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

Now his family are backing the unit against its threat of closure. Woody and his father will line up in the Arena Group Jane Tomlinson Junior and Mini Runs in Leeds on May 13 to raise money for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund charity.

Mr Lander said: “There’s no material way we can ever repay everyone who helped Woody but by doing the mini run we want to show that despite the horrendous start of his life, Woody has grown up into a healthy, happy, chocolate-muching, Lego collecting, cheeky, dancing, opinionated, handsome, loving six-year-old – all thanks to the invaluable work of the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.”

Woody’s mother added: “We owe Woody’s life to the children’s heart surgery unit in Leeds. If we had had to travel to Newcastle or to anywhere else as they are proposing, Woody would not be here today.”