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I am completing this challenge in honour of Sophie and to say thank you to everyone who has helped look after Sophie over the last few years. Sophie was a happy, healthy and active child until she began complaining of pain in her joints at 10 years old. After initially putting it down to growing pains, she began to lose movement and the pain increased. It was soon established that Sophie needed to have surgery in her left elbow for a condition that destroys the cartilage in her elbow joint. Once this surgery was done her right elbow began to hurt and it was quickly discovered that this elbow had the same condition. Both times Sophie spent time on Apollo ward and received the best care from everyone. When Sophie was 12 she began to complain of a bad back, which is unusual for a child. Four months later Sophie was using a wheelchair on a permanent basis. It was discovered that she had a slipped disc and this was compressing her nerve and that is why she could no longer feel her left leg or foot. 

Sophie had her first spinal surgery in May 2021, where part of the disc was removed to try and alleviate her symptoms. Although this initially worked, only a couple of months later Sophie was back on Apollo ward with her back in complete spasm and she spent 10 days on the ward, eventually having a spinal steroid injection. The pain continued for Sophie and in August 2022 Sophie had another spinal surgery where she had a titanium cage screwed into her spine and the disc removed. This was a big surgery,that is very rare to be performed on someone Sophie’s age. Again back on Apollo ward she has been looked after and cared for.  

Sophie has continued problems with her left elbow and has been told that a further surgery needs to happen in order to try and save the elbow joint. She also has further tests and scans coming for a mass in her chest and also for doctors to try and pinpoint why all this is happening. As a family we know Sophie’s medical journey is not over, but at least we know that when she does have to go into hospital for further tests and operations then the staff will all care for her and look after her with the kindest you would hope for. 

 I wanted to do something to say thank you to Apollo ward for the way they have looked after Sophie in the past and will be again in the future.

As most of you will know I have done a lot of sports throughout my life.  The main two being rugby and triathlon.  I gave up rugby at 35 as it was taking too long for my body to recover each week. My triathlons started at sprint level and went on to Ironman distance where I have competed in 8 full Ironman events.  Training for these I have competed in numerous marathons along with other swimming, cycling and running events.

I have not competed for over 3 years and I have loss the fitness and gained the weight.  For me deciding to run a marathon feels like I am starting from scratch again. However i know people will look at it and think he’s run loads of marathons, this is easy for him.  So I wanted to make it harder for myself.

By the time I run the marathon I will be 1 year short of 50 and only have 18 months left of 30 years service in the police.  So my plan is to run the marathon in full police uniform.  This includes custodian helmet, body armour and work boots.

Just over a year ago in September 2021 I was struck down with an acute arthritic episode in both my knees.  I was hospitalised and unable to walk.  Following months of hard recovery and many doctor and hospital visits the specialist believes this was a viral infection caused from when I had COVID.  So as you can see this is going to be very hard for me.

From going down with this virus in September I didn’t run again until March at the end of 2 weeks at Flint House, the police rehabilitation centre!

I would like to say thank you to Deputy Chief Constable Nikki Watson for allowing me to do this event in my uniform.

I have been sponsored by Hi-tech who have given me work boots to run in and more boots/shoes to sell/raffle to make money for the charity.

I know times are hard at the moment but if you any spare money please support me.  The hospital relies on fund raising and I would like to show them how much what they did means to us.