Inspired by Captain/Colonel Tom Moore, Andrew Johnston is wheeling the 26 miles 385 yards of the marathon distance in his 10 yard-long kitchen/family room, finishing before his three months lockdown ends in the middle of June.

Andrew spent 20 years in the Army, serving in the Coldstream Guards. He was discharged for medical reasons in 1996, having contracted Multiple Sclerosis. He has been dependent on a wheelchair since March 1995. In January 2018, he contracted flu and pneumonia at the same time, spending five days in Salisbury District Hospital ICU and just over two weeks recuperating and rehabilitating on the Spinal Unit. This episode caused significant weight and muscle loss, increased MS related fatigue and some residual breathing difficulties.

Having received a “Vulnerable Person” letter, Andrew is coordinating prescription collections for those villagers who are in self isolation; his self-isolation is scheduled to finish on Sunday, 14 June 2020. Meanwhile, he has to wheel 4615 lengths of the kitchen/family room to achieve the marathon distance. He is wheeling 100 lengths of the room per day, overseen by his wife, Catherine. This is quite challenging given the legacy of the flu and pneumonia. He started his challenge on 21st April, the Queen’s 94th birthday and aims to finish on 6th June, the 76th anniversary of D-Day; needing to wheel just fifteen lengths more. Go to https://www.facebook.com/majorandysmarathon to follow his progress.

Andrew’s wife, Catherine is joining MajorAndysMarathon team for the last 2 weeks of his epic wheeling effort and doing her own marathon. As part of her rehabilitation having recently undergone 2 hip replacement operations, she is using the Walk Fit exercise programme, covering 2 miles in her daily 30 minute Walk Fit session. She will cover the 26 miles and 385 yards distance doing Walk Fit exercises in memory of her brother, David, who spent 5 weeks with us on end-of-life care until he died on 21 March, just as the nation went into lockdown. She will do half an hour of Walk Fit exercises each morning, covering 2 miles per day for 13 days starting on Sunday 24th May and finish with a short session on Saturday 6th June to cover the final 385 yards.

Andrew is raising money for six charities; Catherine is supporting one. All the charities are special to them, as they explain on the 7 separate JustGiving pages, which can either be reached by clicking on the following links:

- NHS Charities Together – in support of the medical and care professions at this time - Major Andy's Marathon - NHS Charities Together

- Combat Stress, the Veterans’ Mental Health charity – the invisible wounds are just as bad as the physical ones - Major Andy's Marathon - Combat Stress

- Wessex MS Therapy Centre, Warminster, Wiltshire - Major Andy's Marathon - Wessex MS Therapy Centre

- La Folia, a Salisbury-based music charity – Andrew and Catherine and the charity are collaborating with Furze Platt Senior School in Maidenhead on a long-term music project in memory of their late daughter Katie, who was an inspirational Head of Music until her death in May 2018. See more at Major Andy's Marathon - La Folia

- Motcombe Memorial Hall – The charity provides a conduit to distribute money raised to individuals and organisations within Motcombe and the local community who need additional help at this difficult time - Major Andy's Marathon - Motcombe Village Hall

- Racing Welfare – Racing Welfare supports the workforce of British horseracing, including stud, stable and racecourse staff who need help when times are hard - Major Andy's Marathon - Racing Welfare

- Marie Curie – Catherine is raising money for Marie Curie, who provided the most wonderful care, by day and night throughout the final weeks of David’s life. She wants to help Marie Curie to enable others whose loved ones need help with end of life care to receive the same top quality and loving care. – C's Major Andy's Marathon - Marie Curie

Each page will be updated with his progress daily and you can also follow his progress on the MajorAndysMarathon Facebook page. Please consider supporting one or more of his chosen charities.