Katie Price’s friends on Loose Women have leapt to her defence after she was criticised for dropping out of the London Marathon.
The 39-year-old had entered Sunday’s event to raise funds and awareness for the British Lung Foundation, on behalf of her mother, Amy, who has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
But the mother-of-five had to pull out around nine miles, blaming her heavy costume of giant lungs for her inability to continue.
On today’s Loose Women, her co-stars praised Katie’s efforts, even though she fell short of completing the 26.2 mile course.
Linda Robson said: “How well did Katie do. I know she didn’t finish, only got half way through but she was doing it for her mum and she tried her hardest. Honestly, she really did.”
The Birds of a Feather actress added: “I felt so sorry for her as she was getting such flak yesterday.”
Katie was slammed by some on social media, who criticised her for taking up a coveted place in the event if she wasn’t going to finish.
They said she should have trained harder to prepare for the long-distance race, and heeded the organisers’ warning to not wear heavy costumes given it took place on the hottest day in its history.
“She did no training! There are plenty of others who would have liked the opportunity to run! There is no shame in dropping out if you try your best! She did not!” wrote one.
Another wrote: “She quit, didn’t even train for it. Made a mockery in my opinion! Well done to those that completed it, took it seriously, trained hard and did it for those that took the time to sponsor them! This woman is a joke!!”
However, Anne Diamond pointed out on Loose Women today that although Katie didn’t achieve her goal of finishing the race, she did raise awareness for her chosen charity.
“The fact there has been a lot of publicity about the fact she only got half way has almost given the charity better publicity than otherwise, everyone’s talking about it,” Anne said.
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Jane Moore added: “It is very easy to sit and criticise when you are back home and not the one to make the decision to go into the London Marathon, don’t criticise those who have.”
Linda agreed saying Katie was right to stop, especially as it was reported she had a knee injury.
“You know your own body as well. If you can’t do it, you have to stop, and she stopped. Good luck to her for trying,” Linda said.
Katie’s mum also defended her daughter yesterday.
In a video posted on Instagram of the pair together, Amy, 64, said: “Hello everyone, I would just like to say how proud I am of my daughter Katie for doing the marathon.
“She may not have completed it but she has brought so much awareness, it’s been worth it for the British Lung Foundation.”
Katie then sticks her tongue out, blowing a raspberry.
She wrote alongside the video: “I did train for the run, tried my best in a heavy outfit and if my mummy is proud that’s what matters to me.”
Amy and the Loose Women’s support was echoed by some of her supporters.
One said: “Well done you tried your best and I’m very proud of you in a heavy outfit in the boiling weather and your knees that isn’t your problem and we are all very proud of you Katie.”
A second wrote: “She gave it a good crack. Don’t know if any of you downers have ever had a knee injury, won’t wish that on anybody.”
Another fan pointed: “You can not predict a knee injury, she did what she could do on the day, these things cannot be helped, she may not have finished but she still achieved what she set out to do which was to raise awareness!”
Amy was diagnosed with IPF last year – the same disease which killed Keith Chegwin.
The illness causes fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, making them stiffer and thus more difficult to breathe. She is currently hoping for a life-saving lung transplant.
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Meanwhile. the London Marathon announced the sad news today that former Masterchef finalist, Matt Campbell, 29, died after collapsing during the race.
The chef had reached 22.5 miles before needing medical treatment on the scene and died later in hospital.
A cause of death is not yet known.
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