Zara Phillips meets the Daily Telegraph/Brain and Spine marathon team at the Emirates
01 February 2008
The Daily Telegraph/Brain and Spine Foundation marathon team - 53 people who have volunteered to run the 26.2 miles of the Flora London Marathon on April 13 for the Brain and Spine Foundation - met honorary team captain Zara Phillips in the Legends Suite at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium at the end of January.
Phillips said: "It was a great honour to be asked to captain the team. What you are all embarking on is a great act of generosity to others," she said. "I'm in awe of you all and I'm glad I'm the non-running captain because I don't think I could run a marathon. I would like to thank every one of you for joining the team."The meeting marked the 11-week countdown to the Flora London Marathon, with several experts, including Gary Lewin, the Arsenal and England physiotherapist, dispensing advice which may yet lighten the hours of punishing training needed to finish the race. Lewin emphasised the need to be hydrated. "Sip water, have a bottle with you at work all the time," he said, advising the team to rotate running shoes and keep within known limitations on the day.
This event was kindly sponsored by Lyndales Solicitors.
Over the past nine years the Telegraph/Brain and Spine team has raised over £940,000 for the charity. The 2008 team will meet joint captain, the cricketer Mark Ramprakash, for a training run around the Oval in March. Places are still available in the team for those who have ballot entries in the marathon. Contact Sarah Himelfield (sarah.himelfield@brainandspine.org.uk)Daily Telegraph/Brain and Spine Foundation team:
Zara Phillips and Mark Ramprakash (captains). Glen Wooding, Graham Hawkins, Charles Hildebrant, Amanda Allen, John Ashby, Chris Bailey, Roy Bloxham, Bob Cooper, Lee Crahart, Steyn Crous, Sally Anne Dixon, Lauren Downie, Stephen Gray, Peter Hamlyn, Alexandra Horne, Stephen Keall, Stuart Lee, Lee Manser, Sarah Moreton, Brenda Olsen, Katie Payne, Steven Pearce, Daniel Petrak, Richard Petrie, David Phillips, Ross Piggott, Andrew Rendall, David Robinson, Thomas Robinson, Emily Rose, Paul Simcox, Steven Skippen, Karina Taege, Simon Tucker, Simon Vickers, Suzy Vickers, Nick Westlake, Laurence Woolley, Barry Coombes, Elizabeth Temple-Smith, Sally Watts, Paul Gill, Peter Riley-Jordan, Simon Browne, Anna Phillips, Marisa Ishikawa, Cara Smyth, Michelle Stenhouse, Bob Newman, Paul Crawford, Wendy Bilsby, Rachel Brittle, Robin Scott.
