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Target: £2,000.00
Raised so far: £2,034.64
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Thanks for visiting my London Marathon ( http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/ ) fund-raising page. The marathon took place on Sunday the 25th of April 2010. I finished in 4 hours and 56 minutes and came about 20,000th out of 50,000.

As part of my training, on Sunday the 14th of March 2010 i also ran in the Adidas Half-Marathon at Silverstone race track ( http://adidashalfmarathon.co.uk/ ). I finished in a time of 2 hours and 15 minutes and came in 3078th out of 10,000 runners.

I ran for the Brain and Spine Foundation/Daily Telegraph team. 

I wanted to write a quick note to let you know how i got on and to say thank you for your support.

Yesterday i completed my first and last London Marathon in 4:50 hrs. It was both the best and hardest thing i have ever done. I ran the whole way with an amazing bloke i met on the start line who was partially sighted and running for the guide dogs charity before his genetic condition made him totally blind. Great bloke. Fate? I'm not sure, but if it was not for him it would have been a very different day.

Up to 10 miles or so it was truly amazing. Just an incredible atmosphere. Ross and i were just taking it all in and chatting, giving hundreds of high 5's to the spectators and loving the bands and general noise. 

However for me it was too good to be true. After 15 miles my knee became unbearable and i could not run. I was mortified and limped to the nearest medical tent at about 16 miles. They gave me the mother of all strapping and tied my knee up so tight that i could neither feel it (good) nor bend it (bad) really. Anyway i managed to run on it which was great, but the whole thing cost me about 20 mins (annoying). 

At 18 i saw my brother Ed and he shouted some motivating words which hit home and gave me the inspiration i needed. From then on it was a matter of my body wanting to stop, and me trying not to let it. Between 20 and 24 it was horrible on the body, with every joint screaming at me and every muscle pretty much having given up the ghost, but somehow i got to 25 and the crowd was just incredible. Totally humbling. I began to realise i was going to make it so even though it hurt, i loved every minute of it. 

Coming down the home straight i saw my parents in the grandstand, managed a sprint finish for the last 50 metres and crossed the line with Ross who had done every step with me, before receiving the best hug i've had off my dad in 25 years! ;)

I saw Helen, Pops, Shaggy, and Ed at 3 seperate places and they were huge in getting me round. Thankyou. Love you guys!

So all that leaves really is to thank everyone who sponsored me. YOUR donations are what this was all about. All this was ever about was trying to scrape a bit of cash together for some people who would love to be able to go out and run. Some of us are very lucky that we can. Yesterday reminded me of that and made the whole 4 months of training on my own in the rain/snow/minus degrees worth it.

Thank you everyone for being part of a very special event.

For more information keep reading:

The BSF is a charity that helps people with neurological and spinal injuries and disorders. The Daily telegraph are the main backers and have been involved since 2003 when ex boxer Michael Watson ran for the team. 

On 19 April 2003, ex Boxer, Michael Watson made headlines when he completed the London Marathon walking two hours each morning and afternoon for six days. This was 12 years after his injuries, inflicted by Chris Eubank in a world title fight, left him with massive brain damage and paralysis. Raising money for the Brain and Spine Foundation, Watson slept overnight in a support bus that followed him along the way. Finishing the race by his side were Chris Eubank and his neurosurgeon, Peter Hamlin (founder of the BSF) who had become his personal friends. Watson had acheived something that he was told was never supposed to be possible.

On 4 February 2004, Watson was awarded the MBE by the Queen. She told him that she had not only heard of his achievements, but was impressed by them. Watson was overjoyed.

I remember reading articles in the Telegraph at the time serialising Watson's incredible attempt and being really moved by the magnitude and emotion of what Watson was doing. 
 
Both of my parents have been touched by Brain & Spine problems. In December 2005 my Dad (Guy), who is an ex National League hockey player with Blueharts, had a massive stroke which left him disabled and changed his life forever. In an instant part of his brain was irreparably damaged which not only affected his cognitive skills, but his motor ones too and ended his days as a still 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 3 operations (4 in total) since. Mum, like Dad, played a lot of tennis and her back has made this hard. Both take something like 7 different pills per day to manage their conditions.
 
Having been touched in 2003 by those articles and by Michael Watson in general, and seen my parents struggles, when i came across another article in the Telegraph asking people to run for their team and the Brain & Spine Foundation, i knew i had to run. So i sent in my story and here i am.
 
The 2010 team captain is Argentina and Spurs, World Cup winning legend Ossie Ardilles who i was lucky enough to play against as a 17 year old when he was playing for a Spurs XI and i was a schoolboy. The battle in central midfield was very much one way traffic! Gary Lewin (the England football physio) is also a team member, which is good news for my knee!

More people are killed and maimed in the UK each year by Brain injuries and diseases than by either Cancer or Heart Disease. With just over 100 neurosurgeons for the whole country, fewer than 5% of head injury victims (the biggest killer of teenagers) see a specialist. Successive Daily Telegraph/Brain & Spine Foundation teams have raised more than £1 million for the charity. The coverage the Telegraph offers is a great aid in the fundraising. Regular updates on the progress of the team and it's members can be found in the paper. Here are the links to the stories about this years team so far:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/7624603/London-Marathon-2010-TelegraphBrain-and-Spine-Foundation-all-set-for-big-day.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/7621189/London-Marathon-2010-Telegraph-team-runs-again-to-raise-funds-for-Brain-and-Spine-Foundation.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/7047162/TelegraphBrain-and-Spine-Foundation-team-hit-the-road-ahead-of-London-Marathon.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/7051656/Testimonies-from-the-TelegraphBrain-and-Spine-Foundation-2010-marathon-team.html

I originally entered the 2009 race, but the training aggravated an old knee injury which required surgery to fix. This meant that i had to pull out of the event, as i left myself 3 weeks rehab time, and enter the 2010 one instead (This is why the event date on this page says 26th April 2009). Pulling out was a huge decision and one that it is fair to say, took a reasonable amount of persuasion (by my far more sensible family and friends) for me to make!

If, like me, you are an active sports person, Michael Watson and my parents stories will strike a cord. I am lucky enough to have made my career out of sport as a cricket coach and PE teacher. I owe that, largely, to my parents for the opportunities, encouragement and support they have always shown me. 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 me 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.

Please give whatever you can. It really will be massively appreciated. Your money can help change lives.

Justgiving is a safe and secure way to donate. 100% of what you give will go straight to the Brain and Spine Foundation. Justgiving automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you're a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more. I hope you'll join me in supporting Brain and Spine Foundation.

Thanks so much!

Mark

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Well Done Mark!! Donation by Ruth Blaszczok on 10/05/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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Well done Mark. Great time with a bandaged leg! I got tired just reading about your run! Donation by James Morrison on 26/04/10

 
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid
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Was an absolute pleasure running with you yesterday Mark! It made the whole thing miles easier! 26.2 miles easier! Bring on next year! Donation by Ross Grant on 26/04/10

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Well done Mark! Hope you smashed the 4 hour mark. Donation by Richard Banham on 26/04/10

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Well done Mark! Donation by Damian Eade on 26/04/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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Good luck Mark I hope you make your money target and time target! Donation by Paul Townley-Jones on 25/04/10

 
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
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Well done Mark Donation by Margaret Blaszczok on 25/04/10

 
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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Good luck! Donation by Lonneke Van Kempen on 24/04/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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Good luck! Donation by steve carter on 22/04/10

 
£10.00
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Good luck Mate Donation by Sam Brandon on 22/04/10

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Good luck mate. No walking! Donation by Hobbers on 21/04/10

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Good luck buddy! Better you than us! Donation by Damon & Kristie on 21/04/10

 
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Donation by Ed Kelly on 21/04/10

 
£5.00
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Good luck!!! xox Donation by Clarie Mason on 21/04/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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good luck costo! Donation by Adam Boothroyde on 20/04/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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Don't pull any muscles ! Donation by Crispin Lyden-Cowan on 20/04/10

 
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
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Good Luck Mark, me and my dodgy hip will be thinking of you on Sunday Donation by Lou Arnold on 19/04/10

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Go for Gold Mr Nobbly Knees!!!! All the best :-) x Ebz Donation by Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent on 18/04/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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Good luck mate!! i will be on the look out for you xx Donation by Kate Tranfield on 18/04/10

 
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
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Well done Mark, will look for you at Isle of Dogs Donation by Rachel Morrison on 14/04/10

 
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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Best of luck mate! Donation by Tom Cledwyn on 14/04/10

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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Good luck - hope you enjoy it! Donation by Mark Woodward on 12/04/10

 
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good luck Donation by jerry on 08/04/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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Good Luck Mark...I know you need it. Getting too old for this sort of stuff.You knew I'd sponsor you in the end.You better bloody finish it though! Donation by Ed Costin on 30/03/10

 
£26.22 + £7.40 Gift Aid
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Good luck Mark, I know you can do it! Donation by Janet Clark on 30/03/10

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,934.64
  Offline donations: £100.00
  Mobile donations: £0.00
  Total Raised: £2,034.64
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £492.08

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