Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

About me: My name is Ivan Prue AKA Big Ivan! I'm a 40-something
guy from Bangor in Northern Ireland who decided in his thirties that he no longer liked the look of the guy staring back at him in the mirror and began to take up running. Initially it was to lose weight and get fitter, then after a while I took it more seriously. As the heft began to reduce so did the times. I started talking about PBs instead of PJs! I worked my way up to half-marathons like the Great North Run and eventually started doing marathons. When I  achieved a ballot place in the 2010 London Marathon it was a kind of dream come true and I was determined to beat my PB of 3 hours 12 mins.

Then MS happened (My MS!).                                          

Firstly I would like to point out that everybody with MS is affected differently hence the term "My MS "

You may know a little about MS (or maybe a lot) but you should know where your money is going to hence the potted history of how it affected me. Well basically MS hit me like a freight train. I spent over a month in hospital and running receded into a distant dream as I learned to walk again.  But I refused to let the gloomy outlook be the end of my story. I dug deep and used the drive and dogged determination that I’d built up over the years to create new goals. Initially my goal was to take a few steps. Then to walk further. I received incredible support from NHS Neurologists and MS Support groups and other people with MS. Eventually I was able to walk and so I walked every day, treating the walks like they were runs.  Eventually, I honoured my ballot place and made it to the 2010 London Marathon start line. It wasn't the prettiest but I walked, stumbled and jogged to the finish line and although it was my slowest finish time it was the most emotional and memorable marathon journey I`ve ever experienced.

 This request.

It is now 2016 and I have been receiving monthly infusions of Tysabri (a disease modifying therapy) for the last 6 years...as a result of this I am delighted / thankful of the opportunity to be back running the London 2016 marathon. My MS Society running vest has the motto “Improvise Adapt Overcome “ printed on the back and that is my mantra. I am always doing these 3 things!! You have to just get on with it no matter what!!

If you can spare a few shillings I can assure you that every penny will go towards promoting awareness and raising funds for MS research...#beatMS

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