Supporting the Brain and Spine Foundation: personal stories

22 January 2010

Brain and Spine Foundation Marathon team 2010 Why are people driven to raise funds for charity? Today, this year's Brain and Spine Foundation London Marathon team share their stories and explain why they are supporting a cause that is close to their hearts.

Neurological problems can strike anyone

"Both of my parents have been touched by Brain & Spine problems. In December 2005 my dad (Guy) had a massive stroke which left him disabled and changed his life forever. In an instant, a part of his brain was irreparably damaged which not only affected his cognitive skills, but his motor ones too and ended his days as an active sportsman. It totally changed his life.

As far back as 1988 my Mum (Ruth) ruptured a disk in her back which left her paralysed from the waist down, until an operation in the same year helped her regain her movement. However she has endured a further three operations since. The last, in 2002, again left her temporarily without the full use of her legs.

I am running to raise money to help other people, like them, who have had strokes and other spinal or neurological disorders. Strokes, in particular, are life threatening and, if survived, life changing. I know that I for one would hate to have my sport taken from me, let alone my ability to comb my own hair, cut up my own food and hold a drink at the bar. These are things that we take for granted, but for some they are cruelly taken away. Neurological problems such as strokes and spinal injuries can strike anyone of any age. I hope that my running the London Marathon will help to raise awareness and the bottom line is, raise money for the charity so that they can help those unlucky enough to be affected." Mark Costin

In memory of uncle Michael

"My uncle Michael died from a brain haemorrhage last April. His family were sitting around his dining table when somebody came up with the bright idea of running the marathon to raise money for the Brain and Spine Foundation... I was very close to Mick, and his death came as a big a shock to everyone. I would like to complete this crazy challenge in memory of him." Andrea Lane

Running for Motor Neurone Disease

"I am running for the Brain and Spine Foundation because of my uncle. He died last year from Motor Neurone Disease. Until you are confronted with such illnesses you know so little about them, but in truth the medical profession still knows little about MND. What is so shocking is that there is nothing that can alleviate or slow its terrible effects... I want to help by raising money for a charity that helps people that suffer from brain diseases and injuries. My uncle was a very good footballer and excellent golfer. He would be proud of the Daily Telegraph team running the marathon to raise money for this charity." Andrew Porter

Raising money for people in similar situations

"I got married in 1996 to Roger and the day of our first wedding anniversary we were told that Roger had a malignant brain tumour, in the middle of his brain, and that this could not be removed. He was given 12 months to live. On 31st August 1999, he collapsed at home. He went to St Catherine’s hospice where he stayed until he died on September 10th 1999. Anyone that knows me, knows that I’m not a runner (at all!) so I made the decision that when Roger’s 10 year anniversary came around I would run the marathon for Roger to raise money for people who had been in similar situations." Traci Thorne


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