n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE Marcus Stewart, MND and a marathon

YES, I could talk the talk…now it was time to walk the walk.

A walking marathon to raise funds for a very worthwhile charity seemed like a great idea at the time but, as the big day moved closer, I began to question my sanity.

In the past, I had always shied away from participating in events of this type. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to raise money for good causes, it was more that I couldn’t face the prospect of letting anyone down.

So what changed my mind? I have previously shared with you the plight of our patient, friend and former Rovers and City striker Marcus Stewart, his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease and how he plans to raise £100,000 for the Darby Rimmer Foundation, which is raising awareness and funds for research into a cure for MND and support for those it affects.

When Marcus and his wife

Louise told us they were taking part in the marathon-length London Winter Walk, I couldn’t say no.

How could I plead that I don’t have the fitness or endurance to my friend, who would be doing the marathon himself while suffering from MND?

I roped in my wife Jenny and fellow chiropractor Catherine and actually started training in November – then it all stopped in December.

To be fair, the week before the marathon at the end of January, I did a quick 4k.

The ‘preparation’ continued the night before, with a nice meal and a bottle of wine or two in London.

When we arrived at The Oval cricket ground for the start of the event, we met the others – 18 of Marcus and Louise’s nearest and dearest, one dressed as an aubergine!

It was then I realised I was the only person to have done the equivalent of no training.

The first 10k was not too bad and, when we got to the first rest stop, everyone was in buoyant mood, with smiles all around.

The only thing I remember about the next 10k was the sights – Big Ben, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge came and went in a haze.

The lunch break marked the halfway point, and I could feel myself starting to limp.

We got up after just 20 minutes so we wouldn’t seize up…but it was too late for me. My mind couldn’t comprehend walking away with seizing, painful legs after already completing 21k.

I started to moan, firstly to Jen and Catherine, then to others in Marcus’s group and then simply to strangers. It made me feel a little better!

Finally, after eight hours and 42k, we crossed the finish line.

All the pain and agony was worthwhile, as we discovered the huge effort by everyone involved had raised more than £30,000, the largest sum ever recorded by a single group doing the London Winter Walk.

I’m not saying I would do it again but, in a masochistic sort of way, I think I may have enjoyed the experience. The three of us raised £2,250 towards a wonderful charity.

For anyone who would like to support Marcus and Louise raising money and awareness for MND, a huge charity game is planned at the Memorial Stadium on May 13. There will be some superstars playing!