Matthew Plummer
MattyP's 10 marathons in 10 yrs page
Fundraising for Blood Cancer UK
Story
Hello, my name is Matthew Plummer, Matty P for those who know me.
On the 13th December 1996, following a visit to the doctors, after having almost cut my nose of 9 days prior in an accident at work, I got into a friend’s car, only to find myself involved in a road traffic accident. The car I was traveling in, as a passenger, was hit side on, my side! The fire service took 1 hour and 10 minutes to cut me out of the wreckage and I was then rushed to North Staffordshire Trauma unit by an ambulance, fighting for my life, suffering central dislocation of my left hip, smashing my pelvis in multiple places and having a fractured skull in a crush injury.
This all resulted in several operations to repair internal injuries and a 16 day head injury coma. Once I came round from the coma I then started to find myself having to learn how to talk and communicate all over again at 22 years old.
I overheard my specialists saying during that time that I would more than likely never walk unaided again. I said then "Do you know me?? If I ever get back on feet I will be running in the London Marathon for Millennium!" True to my word, after proving the specialists wrong, I did run the 2000 London marathon in a time of 4 hours 46 minutes.
Whilst training for this marathon I was told that I would be bitten by the bug, so, after looking for a big bug I was a little confused. I did eventually see what they meant... with all the training you feel so great and just want to run more and more!
I always said if I ever found London too easy I would run the New York marathon in the same year. After just a couple of marathons I ran the Flora London Marathon in 2002. I found this too easy, or so I thought, finishing in 3 hours 51 minutes. Again, true to my word, I ran the New York marathon also in the same year. This marathon proved to be my nemesis. After running 21 miles in a time of 3 hours 5 minutes I got excruciating cramp in both hamstrings which literally stopped me in my tracks. I finally completed this run in 4 hours 15 minutes!
Again I was accepted for the London marathon in 2003 which I duly completed. I did not, however, take any time out for rest and recuperation and completed the Staffordshire Moorlands summer series cross country races on the back of the marathon. In the final race of this series the running I had completed during year finally took its toll. My right leg snapped, under pressure, breaking both tibia and fibula, 2 breaks in each bone. This obviously took me out of running for a period. After telling my consultant, Mr. Rattenam, that I was entered in the London marathon 2005 and asking if he could help and please tell me what I had to do in order to get me there, I did everything that was asked of me in order to get to London once more. This year is to be my 10th marathon in ten years, the first Virgin London Marathon. What an achievement! This year is also to be my last marathon as I’ve promised my family that I will stop doing the full distance marathons. During my marathon running I have raised money for charity.
I am currently running for Neuk the Leuk - Lotus7Club charity raising money in aid of Leukaemia Research as this is the charity that is supported by the sports car club, “the lotus 7 club”, that I am a member of.
My uncle passed away in 2008 after a fight with Cancer so this has given me a real inspiration to fight to help as much as I can. After much pain and determination I have raised in excess of £20,000.
On the 13th December 1996, following a visit to the doctors, after having almost cut my nose of 9 days prior in an accident at work, I got into a friend’s car, only to find myself involved in a road traffic accident. The car I was traveling in, as a passenger, was hit side on, my side! The fire service took 1 hour and 10 minutes to cut me out of the wreckage and I was then rushed to North Staffordshire Trauma unit by an ambulance, fighting for my life, suffering central dislocation of my left hip, smashing my pelvis in multiple places and having a fractured skull in a crush injury.
This all resulted in several operations to repair internal injuries and a 16 day head injury coma. Once I came round from the coma I then started to find myself having to learn how to talk and communicate all over again at 22 years old.
I overheard my specialists saying during that time that I would more than likely never walk unaided again. I said then "Do you know me?? If I ever get back on feet I will be running in the London Marathon for Millennium!" True to my word, after proving the specialists wrong, I did run the 2000 London marathon in a time of 4 hours 46 minutes.
Whilst training for this marathon I was told that I would be bitten by the bug, so, after looking for a big bug I was a little confused. I did eventually see what they meant... with all the training you feel so great and just want to run more and more!
I always said if I ever found London too easy I would run the New York marathon in the same year. After just a couple of marathons I ran the Flora London Marathon in 2002. I found this too easy, or so I thought, finishing in 3 hours 51 minutes. Again, true to my word, I ran the New York marathon also in the same year. This marathon proved to be my nemesis. After running 21 miles in a time of 3 hours 5 minutes I got excruciating cramp in both hamstrings which literally stopped me in my tracks. I finally completed this run in 4 hours 15 minutes!
Again I was accepted for the London marathon in 2003 which I duly completed. I did not, however, take any time out for rest and recuperation and completed the Staffordshire Moorlands summer series cross country races on the back of the marathon. In the final race of this series the running I had completed during year finally took its toll. My right leg snapped, under pressure, breaking both tibia and fibula, 2 breaks in each bone. This obviously took me out of running for a period. After telling my consultant, Mr. Rattenam, that I was entered in the London marathon 2005 and asking if he could help and please tell me what I had to do in order to get me there, I did everything that was asked of me in order to get to London once more. This year is to be my 10th marathon in ten years, the first Virgin London Marathon. What an achievement! This year is also to be my last marathon as I’ve promised my family that I will stop doing the full distance marathons. During my marathon running I have raised money for charity.
I am currently running for Neuk the Leuk - Lotus7Club charity raising money in aid of Leukaemia Research as this is the charity that is supported by the sports car club, “the lotus 7 club”, that I am a member of.
My uncle passed away in 2008 after a fight with Cancer so this has given me a real inspiration to fight to help as much as I can. After much pain and determination I have raised in excess of £20,000.
Update: Soon to be running in the Stafford Half Marathon - 21st March 2010
Finishing in a time of 1 hour 45 minutes, photos to come here bib number=1881 Stafford half marathon.
I hope you will assist me in raising as much money as possible in my final marathon, making a full set of 10 marathons in 10 years, and be able to help all of those people who suffer through cancer.
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