UPDATE; I finished 54th, just outside of my top 50 target, but I'm very happy with that, I know I did my best and could not have run any harder. I was the second placed UK runner and 7th overall in my age category, which was possibly the most competitive group. Thank you all for your donations, I really do appreciate it and we've shown that an old man with a dodgy liver can still put in a decent performance in the world's toughest Canicross event!

And Scooby, my canine running partner, was magnificent.

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I was diagnosed with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) nearly 15 years ago but I had been infected since I was a teenager. As is common with a lot of people I didn't know I had the virus and frequent bouts of fatigue and ill health went unexplained.

I failed treatment a few years ago and also developed cirrhosis, a result of long term infection, I'm now waiting for the next generation of HCV drugs to go on trial - something the Hepatitis C Trust has helped me with.

After failing treatment I decided to do everything I could to keep myself healthy and I concentrated on running, which of course I'd hated when I was young and fit! I also wanted to challenge the widely held belief that HCV means constant fatigue and strenuous physical activity is out of the question.

So I took up Canicross running - cross country running with a dog - and found I loved it. I also found the more I ran the less tired I was, it sounds counter intuitive but that's what happened.

This August I will compete in the Trophee Des Montagnes - the Mountain Trophy - reputedly the toughest Canicross event there is, comprising ten races over eight days at 1,600 metres in the French Alps. The event is limited to 150 competitors - and their dogs - last year I was 59th, this year I am hoping for a top 50 finish.

It would give me great satisfaction to help the Trust and my fellow HCV sufferers by doing something I love. I'd also like to encourage more people with HCV to run as it has helped me so much to keep the virus at bay. I should stress that if you have HCV you need to go easy to begin with, it takes a while to get fit.

Anything at all that you can give will be gratefully received - I know everyone wants your money these days so I'm thanking you in advance for your time and generosity.