Introducing the 2007 Brain and Spine London Marathon team
Love and loss prove great motivators
By Gareth A Davies
The Daily Telegraph's Marathon Team 2007 – 42 generous members of the public who have volunteered to run the 26.2 miles of the Flora London Marathon on April 22 for the Brain and Spine Foundation – met their team captains, Frank Warren, the boxing promoter, and Ade Adepitan, the Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium this week
It marked the 15-week countdown to the big day, with several experts, including Gary Lewin, the Arsenal and England physiotherapist, dispensing advice which may yet lighten the hours of punishing training and physical effort required to finish the race.
Adepitan's efforts as a competing captain this year were secured after he revealed that, having retired from Paralympic sport, his intention was always to take part in the marathon. He did not hesitate when asked to follow in the footsteps of previous team captains Michael Watson, Kirsty Gallagher, Andrew Castle, Gaby Logan and Des Lynam.
The reaction was no different from veteran boxing promoter Warren, who took up the role of non-competing captain. "It was a great honour to be asked, and it is a great cause," he said. "I have been involved with boxers who have suffered brain injuries and was, like most people, very moved by Michael Watson completing the marathon for the charity in 2003." Indeed, Warren was one of those who gave up a day to walk with Watson on his six-day odyssey.
He added: "I know many of you have personal reasons for running, and every step you take, every pound you raise, will help raise money for this great charity."
Since 1999, successive Telegraph/BSF teams have raised more than £800,000 for the charity.
Adepitan added that he, too, felt honoured to be leading the team, but admitted that training in a racing chair for long-distance racing is in total contrast to careering up and down a 90ft basketball court. "I have as many concerns as you all do here," he said. "But we'll get through it, as a team."
It was then over to Lewin to offer top advice on marathon running. He emphasised the need to be hydrated at all times, to rotate running shoes and to keep within known limitations on the day.
Every member of the team has deep personal reasons for running. Loss and love are profound forces. Russell Worricker lost his father eight years ago, after he had eight brain tumours removed by consultant neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn, the founder of the BSF. Katrina Clark's husband died of a brain tumour last May, in the same way that Mark Corton lost his niece, aged three, and Jonathan Evans his father. Sue Weaver's father died of a brain and spinal injury. Emmajayne Dumbleton's mother has had two spinal fusions; Simon Fountain had life-saving brain surgery in July 2005 after an accident at work; Gareth Hayden's fiancee, Amy Mitchell, had a brain tumour removed two months ago; James Robinson's sister broke her back in 2005; Jenny Skeate's father suffered brain damage after a car accident; Richard Stevens has a brain tumour, and Stuart Lee is running with a brain cyst the size of a tennis ball. Dan Storer's mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September 2005, and a close friend of Ben Venables died of a brain tumour in August 2006.
Collectively they form a group affected by human frailty, yet galvanised into action and determined to raise money for the BSF to fund research and a much-needed phoneline with a neurological specialist on call 24-hours a day.
Please sponsor Ade Adepitan by visiting his Just Giving web page.
Copyright: The Daily Telegraph
