I am quite an experienced runner; this will be my fifth marathon and I have also run the Great North Run, St Albans Half, Watford Half, Bath Half and I ran the Manchester Marathon for Aspire in 2018.

This year, I am running the London Marathon for Aspire because my father Bill was paralysed by a spinal cord injury and Aspire is one of the charities who have supported him.

In August 2017, my dad fell out of a tree and was paralysed from the waist down. He spent time in Southampton General Hospital, the closest Spinal Injury Centre to where he had the accident, then Salisbury for rehab and then he was finally transferred to The London Spinal Cord Injury Centre at Stanmore for rehab, where he first came across Aspire.

He became a regular user of the Aspire Leisure Centre’s gym and pool, and Aspire’s Welfare Benefits Advice Service supported a claim case on his behalf for attendance allowance.  He also spoke with Lindsey, an Aspire Independent Living Advisor, who has been excellent at giving him practical advice.

My fundraising is going well but there’s still more to do. My training is going ok; I am a working mum of three, so time is my main issue.

My dad has done the Virtual London Marathon but in October he is taking on the Great South Run, which will be his first event in his day chair.  I am extremely proud of him; he has been incredible at getting on with life after his injury and this will be an amazing achievement and makes my London Marathon attempt pale into insignificance!  

We are very grateful for the support of Aspire and other spinal injury charities who play such a big part in helping people with Spinal Cord Injury regain independence and enjoy life again after such a life changing event. 

Sponsor Esther

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