I was the middle distance runner for 20+ years before having a spinal cord injury in 2014 and becoming a tetraplegic. I always wanted to do the Great North Run, but never got round to it, always thinking it would be something I would do later. Unfortunately, due to my accident, I had come to accept that that dream was dead.

That was up until last year when a group of my old running friends agreed to push me around the course. It was an amazing day and we ended up running two hours and one minute while raising over £11,000 for the Matt Hampson foundation and Gym Possible.

As well as being pushed around the Great North Run I feel that I should set myself a physical challenge this year in solidarity with everybody who is taking part. So as part as my fundraising effort this year I will be doing a half marathon on the Skierg at Gym Possible, which should take me around five hours! This will take place a week before the event.

Thanks to the success of last year. Gym Possible has been able to open a new state of the wheelchair accessible gym at Gateshead leisure centre.

We are back this year and aim to smash the two hour barrier and hope to raise a lot of money in the process to fund Gym Possible’s continued operations.

Please consider donating to this brilliant cause so we can continue to make excercise accessible, thanks.

www.gympossible.co.uk

The Matt Hampson Foundation inspires and supports young people seriously injured through sport through its unique Get Busy Living centre in rural Leicestershire. The centre provides expert physiotherapy, specialist personal training, support, mentoring and advice to people suffering a life-changing injury.

The centre’s doors were opened in 2018 by Founder and ex-England and Leicester Tigers rugby player Matt Hampson, who himself experienced a life-changing injury in 2005.