Marathon charity female runner died during London Marathon

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'Don't stop giving, it's what she would have wanted': Family of 'inspirational' woman who died running London Marathon urge wave of generosity to continue as charity donations rocket past £500,000

Claire Squires, from Leicestershire, was on the last mile of the 26.2mile course when she fell to the ground at Birdcage Walk near St James's Park
She had already raised more than £500 for charity by running the marathon - but this has now increased to over £485,000 as news of her death spread
By ticking Gift Aid box, an additional £106,000 in tax breaks has been raised
JustGiving.com agrees to waive its £32,500 fee on donations
Miss Squires was running in memory of her brother, who died of an overdose aged 25 in 2001
Shocked family pays tribute to 'incredible, inspirational, driven person'


Claire Squires died while running the London marathon, but donations to her JustGiving page have soared past £500,000

When Claire Squires stood at the start line for the London Marathon, her fundraising website had attracted £500 in donations.

Last night, less than three days after the hairdresser collapsed and died near the end of the 26.2-mile course, the total had soared past £500,000 with a record number of donations.

Miss Squires, 30, took part in the marathon to raise money for the Samaritans in memory of her brother Grant, who died of a drug overdose ten years ago, aged 25.

Yesterday her devastated parents Paul, 62, and Cilla, 63, a Samaritans volunteer, said in a statement: ‘Words cannot explain what an incredible, inspirational, beautiful and driven person she was. She was loved by so many and is dearly missed.

‘We would like to say thank you so much for everyone’s support. Claire would be so happy and overwhelmed with the incredible support that has been offered by thousands of people from all over the world.’

The couple, who were being comforted at home in North Kilworth, Leicestershire, by daughters Maxine, 38, Nicola, 32, and Penelope, 28, added: ‘If any more money can be raised, that would be fantastic.’

It is not yet known why Miss Squires collapsed less than a mile from the marathon finishing line on Sunday.

Within hours, it became clear she had touched the hearts of thousands as donations through her JustGiving charity page peaked at more than £300 a minute yesterday. By late last night, 44,600 people around the world had donated £502,000.

JustGiving, which is waiving its 5 per cent fee on the money, said it was the largest number of donations received through the service in a day.

Friends and relatives paid tribute to the 30-year-old and described her as an 'incredible, inspirational, beautiful and driven person'.

The hairdresser collapsed in Birdcage Walk, near St James's Park, on the final stretch of the 26.2-mile course on Sunday.

Her family urged people to continue making donations.




They said in a statement: 'Words cannot explain what an incredible, inspirational, beautiful and driven person she was. She was loved by so many and is dearly missed by all of us.

'For Claire and the Samaritans, please keep the donations coming.

'Don't stop giving, just like her. It's what she would have wanted.


'Claire would be so happy and overwhelmed with the incredible support that has been offered by thousands of people from all over the world.'

Her boyfriend of two-and-a-half years, property developer Simon Van Herrewege,31, described Miss Squires as 'the most incredible girl'.

Claire Squires who died while running the London marathon
Poignant: Claire Squires, of North Kilworth, Lutterworth, in a Facebook photo taken the day before she died running the London Marathon

Claire, who often raised funds for charities, has been described by friends as 'the brightest star in the sky'

He said: 'She was happy-go-lucky and so driven. She had a heart of gold. I love her more than words can say and she will be dearly missed.'

JustGiving.com crashed for a short while on Tuesday afternoon.

A spokesman said: 'This is the largest number of donations ever received in a day, and in terms of a single event and not an appeal, it is the highest we have ever seen.

'We are donating the fee we get from donations and giving it to the Samaritans in Claire's honour.

'The five per cent we receive is usually put towards the website, especially to help us at times like this when we are getting a lot of traffic on the site.'


Friends believe her decision to raise money for the Samaritans – which offers support to people in distress – was partly inspired by the memory of her brother.

In 2001, electrician Grant Squires was found dead after taking an overdose. He had ‘sunk into a depression’ after seeing his girlfriend Heidi Richardson killed in a horrific car crash that he survived.

Miss Squires fell to the ground in front of horrified spectators on Birdcage Walk within a mile of the marathon finish line on Sunday.

Paramedics tried to save the hairdresser’s life, but she died at the scene soon afterwards.


In a poignant photograph posted by a friend on Facebook on the day before the marathon, Miss Squires was pictured smiling and giving the thumbs up after choosing her running outfit.

A family friend said her parents Paul and Cilla, who have been married for 40 years, were struggling to come to terms with losing another of their five children.

They were too upset yesterday to comment at their home in North Kilworth, Leicestershire.

An inspiration to her daughter, Cilla, who manages a care home in Leicester, has volunteered at the Samaritans for 24 years.

The friend said: ‘To lose one child is just terrible, but to lose another – it’s a nightmare. They are a lovely family, and all the siblings were really close, so it was awful for them when Grant died. Now to lose Claire as well – it is just awful.

‘One minute I was watching the marathon on the television trying to spot her, and then I got a call saying she had died.’

The family friend, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Claire was so beautiful and such a nice girl. She was fit and had been training for the marathon.

‘She’s climbed Mount Kilimanjaro too – it just shows these things can happen to anyone.

‘I just hope out of all of this tragedy her mother will find strength and see how much support she has from everyone.’

Tests to establish why Miss Squires collapsed are expected to take place in the coming days.

Last night Catherine Johnstone of the Samaritans, for which Mrs Squires had done voluntary work, said the charity would dedicate a fund to her daughter’s memory.

She said: ‘Claire chose to run the marathon for Samaritans as her mother Cilla Squires has been a volunteer for the charity for 24 years.

'We desperately wish that it was not under these circumstances, but we have been overwhelmed by the response.'

Friends paying tribute to Miss Squires – who leaves three sisters, Maxine, 38, Nicola, 32, and Penelope, 28 – said she was ‘wonderfully vibrant’. One, Nicola Short, said she ‘brought laughter and love to everyone’s life’.

Miss Short added: ‘She will be sorely missed by all and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.’

Rebecca Herity wrote: 'Such an amazing girl! Miss you so much already! Beautiful angel xxx", while Jo Lovell also wrote: 'Amazing lady! xxx'.

One of the runner's best friends, Victoria Hauser, today told Channel 5 News Ms Squires 'the most amazing person in the world'.

Ms Hauser, who knew Miss Squires for 15 years, said her friend would always do her best for other people.

She said: 'Claire was the best friend I have ever had. She could never be replaced and dozens of people would feel like that - it's not just me.

'Once Claire was a friend, she was a friend for life and a very, very good friend. There is nothing Claire wouldn't have done for you, really.

'It's been never-ending. She's done the Great North Run, she's done a climb on Kilimanjaro, she's done a marathon previously for the Children's Society. She raised over £750 for the Children's Society.

'It wasn't about a personal best or anything like that for Claire, she'd do her best - it was about what she could do for other people.

Claire Collins-Green said: 'You are the brightest star in the sky. Love surrounds you.'

Lily Jones added: 'Thinking of you Claire, Rest In Peace.'

A fellow runner donated £20 and wrote: 'So sorry to hear the news. Rest easy - an angel for those who run the course in future years.'

Another donated £50 and said: 'So tragic. Claire was an inspiration to everyone. Our thoughts are with your family and friends.'

Friends also took to Twitter to pay tribute to Miss Squires.

Daisy Milburn wrote: 'R.I.P Claire Squires deeply saddening news & you'll be hugely missed', and Callie Wright wrote: 'RIP Claire Squires - lived life to the full. Only lady I know to take hair straightners up a mountain!'

http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Squires2

 

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Claire Squires died while running the London marathon, but donations to her JustGiving page have soared past £500,000

Tragic: Claire Squires, 30, collapsed and died while running the final stretch of Sunday's London Marathon

 

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Committed fundraiser: Miss Squires regularly raised money for charity

Committed fundraiser: Miss Squires (centre), pictured with Nikki Wells (left) and Penny Squires (right) takes part in a charity car wash

 

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Such has been the response to her tragic death that The Samaritans has said it will dedicate a fund to the memory of Claire Squires

Generous: Miss Squires had previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise money for the RAF

 

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As strangers continue to donate thousands of pounds each hour to Miss Squire's charity fund, the Samaritans today confirmed that they are in talks with her family about how to spend the money.

A spokesman for the charity, a confidential emotional support service for anyone in the UK and Ireland, said the huge amount raised will be undoubtedly help make people more aware of the services and support available through the Samaritans.

Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of the Samaritans, said: 'These donations will be put into a tribute fund and, following discussions with the family, will go towards projects they feel would have been important to Claire.'

The organisation's website explains that it 'aims to benefit society by improving people’s emotional health in order to create a greater sense of well being'.

It accomplishes this by offering 24-hour support on the telephone, by email, by letter or face-to-face. The charity also visits schools, prisons and workplaces.

It receives five million telephone calls a year, all of which are answered by the 18,750 unpaid volunteers who work at one of its 201 branches around the UK and Ireland.

Across the UK the Samaritans can be reached on 08457 90 90 90 for the price of a local call. In the Republic of Ireland the number is 1850 60 90 90.

You can also email Samaritans at [email protected] or write to Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA.

 

[singveld]

Claire's page
£679,096.90 raised
59,599 donations
April 25 GMT 17:00hrs

 

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JustGiving agrees to donors' demands to waive its £26,000 cut as marathon death girl's fundraiser page hits £400,000

JustGiving.com has agreed to waive its usual fee on donations given in memory of Claire Squires, the runner who collapsed and died in the London Marathon on Sunday.

It follows a surge of requests from those donating online for the charity website to waive its take.

Donations have flooded in for the Samaritans on the 30-year-old's fund-raising page with the total hitting £400,000, with a gift aid boost from the taxman included, at 11.30am today.

But JustGiving creams off up to 6.5 per cent on donations, after gift aid is added. It had made as much as £26,000 in just 48 hours from Miss Squires' page.

Poignant: Claire Squires, of North Kilworth, Lutterworth, in a Facebook photo taken the day before she died running the London Marathon

Early today JustGiving was urging donations to her page today via a blog post on its homepage. But users responded by urging the website to waive its cut.

Bobde129987 left a comment: 'RIP Claire Squires. JustGiving should release a public statement giving all commission from Claire's page to the Samaritans.'

There was no response initially on the blog from JustGiving on the issue of fees but by mid-morning it had modified the post to say: 'The response to Claire Squires’ tragic death on Sunday has been extraordinary. Out of respect for Claire’s memory, we will be donating our fees back to the Samaritans.

'We are honoured to have played our part in enabling people from all over the world to pay their respects and donate in their thousands over the last couple of days. Yesterday the JustGiving site saw a record number of visits, with over 10,000 people donating together at any given time. This huge wave of sympathy continues today.


It emerged today that Miss Squires' friends believe her decision to raise money for the Samaritans – which offers support to people in distress – was partly inspired by the memory of her brother.

In 2001, electrician Grant Squires was found dead, aged 25, after taking an overdose. He had ‘sunk into a depression’ after seeing his girlfriend Heidi Richardson killed in a horrific car crash that he survived.
Generous: Miss Squires had previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise money for the RAF

Generous: Miss Squires had previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise money for the RAF

Miss Squires fell to the ground in front of horrified spectators on Birdcage Walk within a mile of the marathon finish line on Sunday.

Now, with generous Britons likely to pour in hundreds of thousands of pounds more and after This is Money and MailOnline got in touch, JustGiving on Tuesday agreed to hand back the fees.

The company said: 'The fees that charities pay us to handle their online donations enable us to provide a world-class system capable of handling huge volumes of traffic and donations at a moment’s notice, and to continuously re-invest to create new and better tools for charities to raise money.

The huge groundswell of support for the Samaritans in Claire’s memory is a moving example of the power of the internet for good.'

The company has received donations from 20million people in the past decade, who have given to one of 1.3million fundraising pages. More than £1billion has been raised, including gift aid, which could amount to revenue for the website of as much as £65million. It also operates in the U.S. and Japan.

The highest amount raised on a single page was £976,000 - a record likely to be smashed by the giving in memory of Miss Squires.

JustGiving charges 5 per cent on fundraising. But it applies the charge after gift aid is added - a 25 per cent top-up from the government - and also includes a credit card charge. In all, up to 6.5 per cent is taken from the amount that would otherwise go to the charity.

For those running a fund-raising marathon, the first 2.3km of effort goes towards JustGiving's fees and costs.

It also charges charities £15 a month to be registered on the site to receive money.

Rival Virginmoneygiving.com, in contrast, only charges 2 per cent on donations and nothing on gift aid. It charges charities a single start-up fee of £100 plus VAT.

Bmycharity.com, owned by Help for Heroes, takes no commission, charging only 16p for credit card payments and applying a £150 for charities to register.

Charitygiving.co.uk, run by the Dove Trust, takes nothing from your donation unless you include Gift Aid, when it deducts 40p. It passes on £12.42 for a £10 donation to charity. And it's free for charities to register. It sets out a comparison in a table with competitors here.

JustGiving was founded by Zarine Kharas and Anne-Marie Huby, who pioneered the concept. In an interview with the London Evening Standard last year, Kharas said it was a 'for-profit' organisation but that maximising profits was not the primary goal.

 

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Coroner blames now-banned sports supplement for heart attack death of charity London Marathon runner, 30, who raised £1m posthumously

An energy supplement which has a similar effect on the body as amphetamines caused the heart attack death of a charity runner who collapsed less than a mile before the finish line of last year's London Marathon, a coroner said today.

Claire Squires, 30, whose death led to almost £1 million of donations being made to the Samaritans, put a scoopful of Jack3D in her water bottle to give her an energy boost if she 'hit a wall', an inquest has heard today.

But hairdresser Miss Squires collapsed on Birdcage Walk, close to Buckingham Palace, on April 22 last year.

Paramedics battled to save her, but she died later in hospital.

Recording a narrative verdict, Coroner Dr Philip Barlow laid the blame for her death on the supplement, which contains DMMA - an amphetamine-type stimulant linked to high blood pressure strokes and death.


Tragic: Marathon runner Claire Squires, pictured, collapsed and died less than a mile before the finish line of the London Marathon last year after taking a now banned energy supplement

Following today's inquest her family called for tighter regulations surrounding the supplement which was banned in Britain by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency last August.

Her boyfriend Simon Van Herrewege had told the inquest that Miss Squires, who had run the marathon two years previously, had bought a tub of Jack3D on the internet two or three months before running the marathon and is said to have taken some on the day.


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He told the inquest: 'She never really got on with it. I don't think she particularly liked it, but she said for the marathon she wanted to beat her previous time.

'She said she was going to take one scoop of it in her water bottle and if she hit a wall she would take it to give her a boost.'


Battle: Paramedics attempted to revive Miss Squires, pictured (right) fundraising with a friend, who collapsed at Birdcage Walk but they were unable to save her

Claire had taken part in several long distance races including the London Marathon, Belfast Marathon and Great North Run before and taken part in gruelling challenges like climbing Kilimanjaro.

The 31-year-old told how he waited with Claire's friends and family near the finishing line but she never crossed it.

Off-duty paramedic Donna Tucker was there supporting a colleague when she saw Claire collapse.

She said: 'I saw a female with dark hair in a ponytail and a blue T-shirt on with the name Claire go past me.

'She appeared tired and was slowing down. I called Claire's name to encourage her.

'She made eye contact as she started to run again. But then she slowed down suddenly and started to struggle towards the barrier reaching out with both hands in an attempt to steady herself.

She added: 'At this point Claire appeared to have a very mild seizure which lasted about five seconds.'


St John Ambulance volunteers rushed to Miss Squires's aid but Miss Tucker leapt over the barrier to help when she saw her lips and cheeks turn blue.

She said: 'She wasn't breathing and had no pulse. I started chest compressions.

'She was initially breathing very slow, gasping breaths which is common in cardiac arrest which then stops.

'St John's brought a defibrillator and ventilator bag and I continued until the London Ambulance Service got there.'


'It would give someone a racing heart, increasing heart rate and make the heart work much harder than it naturally would.'

Dr Nicola Drake on the effects of Jack3D
Claire was taken to St Thomas' hospital but doctors were unable to save her.

She had been running the marathon in memory of her brother Grant, who died aged 25 from a drugs overdose in 2001.

Miss Squires, from North Kilworth in Leicestershire, was buried next to her brother and her funeral was attended by hundreds.

Reports of her death prompted thousands of people to log on to her Justgiving page to raise almost £950,000 in her memory for the Samaritans.

She had posted on her page that she was initially taking part in the run for fun but that it was an opportunity to raise funds and 'change lives.'

Miss Squires was one of more than 37,000 people taking part in the London Marathon. Her death is the tenth since the event began in 1981.

The last competitor to die was a 22-year-old fitness instructor in 2007.

UK medicine watchdog MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) banned the Jack3D drink last August for public safety it was linked with several deaths in America.

Dr Nicola Drake, an A&E consultant at St Thomas', said it contained a stimulant called DMAA which acts 'like amphetamines.'


Claire Squires had run several long distance races in the past

She said: 'It would give someone a racing heart, increasing heart rate and make the heart work much harder than it naturally would.

'I didn't know much about it at the time, but from research we did on the day Claire died I know it has been associated with deaths in America of soldiers doing extreme exercise.'

DMAA has also been linked with high blood pressure, headaches, vomiting and strokes.

Dr Drake said she could not say if this contributed to Claire's death, but added: 'It is not something I would expect to happen to someone who was running a marathon who is fit and healthy but I can't answer that.

'All I can say is it is very unusual.'

But cardiologist Professor William McKenna said that the supplement may have been an important factor in her death.

He told the inquest that a postmortem didn't find any significant abnormalities with Miss Squires's heart but found 'toxic plasma levels of an amphetamine-like substance which could have contributed to the development of a fatal arrhythmia.'

The inquest heard Claire went to visit acupuncturist Stephanie Curnoe in October 2011 who discovered she had an irregular heartbeat during treatment which later returned to normal.

Miss Curnoe said she told her to visit her GP as it could warrant further investigation but it is not believed she ever did.

However Professor McKenna said he believed her irregular pulse was 'probably a red herring' and added: 'The substance in the blood was probably an important factor in the outcome.'

Dr John Van Der Walt, who carried out the post-mortem on the runner, told the inquest the runner had died from heart failure brought on by extreme physical exertion.

The medic said the DMAA contained in the Jack3d taken by Claire - who was unaware of its dangers - had contributed to her deadly fatigue.

He told the inquest: 'There had already been several deaths in the American army and it had been banned by the American army.


High spirits: Claire Squires, pictured (left) the day before she ran the London Marathon last year, and smiling for a family photo, right

'I understand it is banned in several countries.

'On Amazon, Jack3d is still being sold. But DMAA has been removed from the product.

'DMAA causes vascular restriction and increases heart rate.

'On the balance of probability DMAA was a contributory factor on the cause of death.'

Another witness told that Claire lost an unusual amount of blood while being treated at the hospital.

Professor Sanjay Sharma, from St George's Hospital in London and medical director for the London Marathon, said: 'It (DMAA) may have contributed to the amount of blood seen. It was an unusual amount for a cardiac arrest in such a young person.'

He added that the he had no idea how many marathon participants are taking supplements such as Jack3d.


Final preparations: Claire pictured in her running gear the night before the London Marathon

Professor Andrew Kicman, a biochemist at King's College London, added that many sports people taking Jack3d were unaware of what they were taking.

Recording a narrative verdict at Southwark Coroners Court, Dr Philip Barlow said: 'She had taken a supplement containing DMAA which on the balance of probabilities and combined with extreme physical excursion caused acute cardiac failure which resulted in her death.'

Dr Barlow said he hoped others would learn from Claire's death and avoid taking
dangerous supplements.

He added: 'Claire Squires was an otherwise fit and healthy 30-year-old.

'We have heard that she trained hard and very seriously for that event.

'She had run marathons before and by any standards she was extremely fit.'

Dismissing evidence that an acupuncturist had warned Miss Squires that she had an irregular heartbeat, the coroner said it would have been likely that any problem would have become apparent on other occasions.

He said: 'Claire had run marathons before and exercised to a very high degree of excursion before.

'DMAA is a supplement. It is clear that Claire had bought that and had put it in her water bottle to
take if she needed during the marathon.

'It was not a normal supplement for her, but she had taken it on this occasion.

'It was under the brand name Jack3d. Although we have heard DMAA may now have
been removed from Jack3d.

'It is very important to make the point that we have heard a lot of evidence today which has described DMAA as an amphetamine-like substance, I do not want anyone leaving this court today with the impression that Claire had taken amphetamines.

'There is no evidence that she had done so.

['DMAA is a blood constrictor, it narrows vessels and increases blood pressure. It has been linked with deaths in American army and banned in at least one other country.

'There is a risk of harm of taking that substance during extreme exercise. But there is not evidence that Claire was aware of that risk.

'On the balance of probability I accept the evidence that DMAA contributed to Claire's death.'

Following the verdict, Miss Squires's family said that she was very anti-drugs.

In a statement read outside Southwark Coroners Court her boyfriend Mr Van Herrewege, 31, said: 'This has been an extremely difficult year for us.

'Claire's death has left a gaping hole in our lives but we will remember her every day with a smile.

'She died running for charity. She was passionately against drugs and never used them and never thought they would end her life.

'She innocently took this supplement which was widely available at the time. It is now clear there should have been far better regulations in place so no tragedies like this can happen again.

'No other family should have to go what we've been through.

'Claire was a beautiful person who would do anything to help other and was liked by all who knew her.'

The family thanked the public for their support following Miss Squires's death.

'I hope it will help Claire's memory live on,' her boyfriend added.

The London Marathon organisers said today that they will include information about substances such as Jack3d for runners for future events.

 

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did singapore regulars who died during IPPT ? taking something similar????

BANNED FROM THE UK - THE ENERGY SUPPLEMENT WITH THE SAME EFFECT AS AMPHETAMINE

Banned: Jack3d contains a stimulant called DMAA

Jack3D contains a stimulant known as DMAA (dimethylamylamine) that has been linked to high blood pressure, headaches, vomiting, stroke and even death.
The UK’s medicines watchdog MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) ruled last August that it is unlicensed and that all other DMAA containing products needed to be removed from the market to protect public safety.
The decision followed similar warnings around the world, including in the US and Australia where a man died after buying DMAA online.
Jack3d is said to boost energy, concentration and metabolism. But DMAA, most commonly used as a workout aid or dietary supplement, can have a physiological effect on the body by narrowing the arteries and raising the heart rate, said the MHRA.
This has been linked to suspected adverse drug reactions worldwide, ranging from shortness of breath to heart attacks.
An MHRA spokesperson said at the time: 'Jack3d is mainly bought over the internet although it is also available in sports stores specialising in work out products.
'If we find a shop selling it we will send them a written reminder asking them to remove it from their shelves. If they ignore this then our enforcement officers will move in and begin legal action.
'It is the most popular sports supplement in the UK because it is a stimulant that allows you to work out for longer.
'But it is for people who are really into their fitness. Your average person who goes to the gym once or twice a week is unlikely to have ever used it.'

 

[banglat]

Re: did singapore regulars who died during IPPT ? taking something similar????

What a waste of a beautiful and charity minded girl. RIP.

 

[wayanggedek]

Re: did singapore regulars who died during IPPT ? taking something similar????

Sad, why do good people die young? Knew a girl at her prime of her life died of cancer less than a year of diagnosis. Really sad. They say life is unfair, yes I believe.