The Eleventh Hour

It seems I’ve made a mistake. The chance to vote for #MYWBpledge did not finish at midnight last night, it finishes at midnight TONIGHT!

This is my last chance to encourage you to vote for me…

In the 70s I used my legs to bounce on my space hopper. In the 80s I used my legs to ride my Burner BMX. In the 90s I remember running across a road in West Yorkshire to get to the hospital to be part of the birth of my first born; Lucie. In the 00s I used my legs to walk down the aisle to marry the most beautiful woman I ever did meet.

Now, what does the future hold for my legs? I really don’t know.

I do know this; I intend to fill 2016 with fantastic memories for my girls. The whole point of me entering this competition is for my girls to see what can be achieved regardless of what some might say is difficult and challenging circumstances. Also, I hope that what we are doing now will help somebody with my condition in a few years’ time. I hope that others don’t fall like I do, don’t feel weak like I do and don’t feel constantly exhausted like I do. I hope that many more people will be able to do all of what I’ve mentioned above because we’re raising awareness and funds right now.

I’m not a natural at what I do, every time I have gone onto a radio station I have nearly been sick, every time I’ve stood up in front of all my colleagues or any audience I have panicked so much my heart feels like it will pop out of my chest, it really doesn’t sit well with me to talk about this condition but it has to be done, otherwise nobody would ever know.

Since I started raising awareness I have kept a scrapbook, a portfolio of memories for Lucie, Olivia and Skye to look back on. It contains every blog, every newspaper article, photos, certificates and acknowledgements of our achievements. This is my legacy to them; this is how I’m trying to be the best Daddy I can be.

A saying I’ve heard often and stuck by myself is that if you do not like something in life then change it, if you cannot change it then change your attitude towards it, so that’s what I do. I cannot take any medicine, there is no prescription for me but what I do have is my family, friends and my challenges to keep me on my feet.

I’ve seen other parents score strikes when bowling to rapturous applause and joyous laughter “That was my Daddy’s strike”, I’ve seen other parents win a race at a school sports day “That was my Daddy that won that” as they lean to my youngest daughters ear and this is also something I cannot do, I can, however walk and so that’s what we’ll do. We will walk one mile-a-month to iconic sporting arenas and events in 2016 which is an Olympic year and also 50 years since England won the World Cup. Then my girls can say “That was my Daddy that walked that!”

I’m a very lucky man, everyone I have asked to help me in 2016 has been extremely accommodating with an ‘open arms’ attitude for which I am very grateful. This started in autumn of 2015 when I asked actor, Ralph Ineson to help with my very own short film to promote my intentions for 2016, he replied “It would be an honour to get involved” and this, with the help of friends, Paul Adams and Steve Richmond, is how we made this short film.

So far we have raised 36 hours of research in the first two months of this year and we’ve already made some fantastic memories and you can see them here.

https://flipagram.com/f/kf4hokUCIq

So you see this competition is imperative, it is an opportunity to take my Orange t-shirt on tour for all to see, so people can raise questions about the condition of which I can answer and to raise funds to treat others in the future.

This is not a vanity project; it’s not about me at all really. A very big reason is for this one picture right here, the people in it, our year ahead and the memories we’re going to make

This is a life changing opportunity to make my world bigger with The Discovery Channel UK and you can come with us too!

So, for the very last time of asking…

1. Vote for "Martin from Buckinghamshire"

2. Vote for two other people.

3. Fill out Name, email and phone number.

4. Hit "Submit"

5. When you receive a "Thank You!" you have successfully voted

http://www.discoveryuk.com/pledges/vote-now-2/

Thank you to everyone that has voted, shared, hit RT and encouraged others to vote for me, I’ll probably never be able to thank you all enough but you must know it’s appreciated from the bottom of my heart.

#MoveAMileForMuscles

#IfICanYouCanToo

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Mile 2: Iffley Road, Oxford.

It was in 2013 that I started to raise awareness about Muscular Dystrophy; I wanted to ‘Move a Mile for Muscles’ and all I could think of was the most famous mile in history.

On the 6^th of May, 1954 Sir Roger Bannister ran a sub four minute mile at the Iffley Road track in Oxford and I’ve always wanted to get onto that hallowed ground. I never got round to it, it’s something that I’ve always put off “We’ll go there another day, we’re too busy”. So in 2013 I did carry out my mile but in the luxury of a venue nearer to home and more convenient to myself.

Things have changed and an opportunity has presented itself to me and there is no way that I will be turning it down, I will be getting onto one of the most famous tracks in the world. 

I have become so intrigued and interested with sports people that are mostly alone in their event and how they overcome everything that comes with that. Some might say that Roger Bannister was not alone and he was helped by pace makers, similar to that of a boxer with his team in the corner of the ring. The pace makers of the mile were Chris Chataway (co-founder of the Guinness book of records) and Chris Brasher (sports journalist and co-founder of the London Marathon), these three men were a band of brothers and had a lot to prove as Bannisters training techniques were considered controversial and most certainly unorthodox for a runner.

The event nearly never happened at all, there was a very strong wind on the day and Bannister decided he would rather save himself for another day but at 18:00 the wind dropped enough to get the race underway. The gun fired and they were off! The stadium announcer on that day was Norris McWhirter (Guinness book of records presenter) and the BBC commentary came from Harold Abrahams (1924 Olympic 100 metre champion).

Each time the men crossed the line the time was announced and could be heard by the men. The first lap was 58 seconds, on time. On the second lap they heard 1.58, again, good and on time. After the third lap the men heard the announcement of 3 minutes, 1 second and this wasn’t good enough. Bannister kicked and crossed the line at the point of exhaustion.

Chris Brasher setting the pace for Sir Roger Bannister

The final announcement was made… “As a result of Event Four, the one mile, the winner was R.G. Bannister of Exeter and Merton colleges, in a time which, subject to ratification, is a track record, an English native record, a United Kingdom record, a European record, in a time of three minutes...” The complete time was not heard because of the erupting crowd but Bannister had done it!

Away from the track Sir Roger Bannister spent most of his life as a Neurologist in Oxford, which struck a chord with me. It was a neurologist in Oxford that gave me the diagnosis of my condition and the coincidences don’t stop there. It is no secret that I have great difficulty in walking and that I’m grateful for this diagnosis and not anything else. Also, the love and appreciation I have for my family, I write about them in nearly every blog and how I wish to be the best role model I can be.  Imagine my surprise then when I heard a recent interview with Sir Roger…

“I’m having troubles with walking, so I do have difficulties. Ironically it’s a neurological disorder of Parkinson’s. I’m being well looked after and I don’t intend to let it interfere with my other activities. Life has its physical challenges, I’ve not been free of other illnesses but I take every day as it comes and the pleasure I receive, much of it is seeing what my grandchildren are achieving. I once said, as someone was commiserating with me about having this illness I said just consider the alternatives, which is the way I look at it.

There is a gentle irony about it but I’ve seen and looked after patients with so many neurological and other disorders that I’m not surprised that I’ve acquired an illness; it’s in the nature of things. I think it’s important to be a good father and grandfather and of course what we pass on, we pass the gifts of the children and grandchildren whom we have raised. The most important part of my life has been my family, I’m extremely grateful for my wife who has always supported me, putting that alongside my career these have gone hand in hand.

One of my pleasures in life has been walking, apart from of course, running and I founded a walking club in Oxford and we had our 100^th walk a little while ago but of course now the walks were always followed by lunch so now I’m a very happy member of the lunching group that hears about the walk and therefore vicariously enjoys the walk”

 

So it is with humour and a tongue firmly in my cheek that I say there is little difference between myself and Sir Roger Bannister except about 44 years and the fact my mile will take about 44 minutes.

I have been invited to the historic race track at Iffley Road, Oxford to stand on the shoulders of giants and walk one mile in my very own shoes. Three minutes and 59.4 seconds was the world record time and I actually feel lucky that my time will be a lot longer. This will give me the opportunity to appreciate not only where I’ll be, but also the family and friends that will enjoy this experience with me.

You can sponsor me here> https://www.justgiving.com/Martin-Hywood3 

'Like' our Facebook page> https://www.facebook.com/MileForMusclesCountMeIn/ 

Follow me on twitter> https://twitter.com/HywoodMartin

If I Can, You Can Too.

Sometimes it feels good to be different, it might be painful and sometimes uncomfortable but I like to push myself. I’m Martin; I’m 42 years old, living and adjusting to a life with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. I’m a husband and also a father to three great girls, the youngest of whom I’ve never picked up, never been able to carry and cuddle, I’ve always been too weak. It’s these things that are difficult for me to handle but we carry on and adjust, regardless. And besides, I consider myself lucky enough to be a family man; my girls are the ones that push me on, to keep fighting.

Since I was diagnosed at 23 years old my focus and attitude has always been positive, there is no point in being anything else, if I do become anything else then I know I will suffer physically and I can’t afford to let that happen. As I’ve mentioned, I’m grateful to have what I have and with that said I’m prepared to do all I can to help others.
For the last three years I’ve been part of Muscular Dystrophy UK’s ‘Move A Mile For Muscles’ campaign, each year I have pushed myself more and challenged myself exactly the same as an athlete would, my preparation is similar too because every challenge is relevant to that person’s ability. I train, I diet and I set myself up to finish what I set out to do the best way I can.

This year will be different, very different indeed. 2016 is an Olympic year and as I’m losing the ability to walk at all, I want to lead by example and get as fit as I possibly can and I’m challenging you to do the same. I never expect anyone to do anything that I’m not prepared to do myself; also this challenge comes with a positive twist. Have you ever watched a sporting event or seen a sporting, iconic arena on telly and thought “I’d love to go there one day; I’d love to do that”? Well this year I’ll be fulfilling some dreams for myself and others along the way, very simple ones but good ones nonetheless.

My challenge is to move a mile for muscles once a month this year to iconic sporting events and arenas all over the country, raising much needed funds and awareness along the way.

These are my miles…
Walk one mile around Stoke Mandeville Stadium
Walk a mile round Iffley road track in Oxford (where Roger Bannister broke the record for a four minute mile)
Walk one Mile around the Oval cricket ground, London.
Walk one mile to tower bridge, London, to watch and support the Marathon runners.
Race a mile around Brands Hatch circuit pushing myself to the absolute limit in a BMW M3.
Walk up Wembley Way on FA cup final day
Walk one mile to watch the F1 at Silverstone
Walk One mile to watch tennis at Wimbledon
Walk one mile to Elland Road stadium
Walk one mile around the Olympic stadium, London.

Every mile will be completed with a blog with reasoning and heritage. You can come with me too, that’s my gauntlet being thrown down to you. Do you think you could get yourself fit enough to move a mile for muscles in this Olympic year? Inspire your family, get them off the couch and get them out. Ever wanted to go to a sports event but never got round to it? Get up and go!

I have been with my wife for about 20 years and every year she says that she’d love to go to Wimbledon, this year we will and we’ll do it for a great cause too!
You’re welcome to come along with me or take up your own challenge and move a mile for muscles by yourself. I challenge you to come up with an original idea to get people up and motivated; motivated enough to help others.

All of this will be exhausting, it will absolutely drain me but I’m hoping to have family and friends with me to make this a real team effort. I have an opportunity here and there is no way I’m going to let this go.
As I’ve got older I’ve started to read more and more and last year a friend recommended that I read about a runner called Steve Prefontaine and I did…
“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.”

I can walk, so I will.

Ambulant

Once again, I've been lucky enough to have someone else join me on my blog. Steve Davies is a friend of mine with Becker Muscular Dystrophy and wanted to join me in trying to explain some of the frustration behind being an ambulant disabled person...

With A Little Help From my Friends

I really like to be busy, not necessarily physically but most definitely, mentally.

On the 26th of September 2014, after recently finishing my 'Mile For Muscles' in Leeds I decided to go again and once again I would try to better what I had just conquered. I took to social media and decided that I would try to turn 'I' into 'We'. I was wondering if any of my friends would like to get on-board with an idea I had, which, in essence, seemed quite simple. Would you be able to join me and help me complete an ambition of mine and that was to be part of a Marathon.

It may seem strange to some that as my condition gets worse I have shown more interest in sports that involve just one person, distance or challenging environment. This might stem from my own challenges that I now face, I'm not sure but whatever it is I'm thoroughly enjoying it, the things humans put themselves through to prove a point, never give up and relish on the achievement.

So, back to that Friday night in September, some of you replied to my request that night and there was a theme, I was getting the same reply via Facebook, Twitter and text messages and yet some of you had no idea you were all saying the same thing; Count Me In! Our tag line was born and I was bombarded with it. Through the Autumn and early Winter of 2014 I was already visualising a Marathon in Aylesbury and even had some of the running order worked out already but then I had to think about reserve runners in-case life was life and people had to pull out. Also, I wanted a broad range of people involved,  the event had to be about inclusion, encouragement and fun. Talking about fun, I wanted to bring a musical element to the day too, so in January 2015 I met with old school friend, musician and music promoter, Paul Adams. Typical coffee shop meeting that over ran and ended up with us getting chucked out by our ear. As I was walking back to my car Paul closed the meeting by saying "Yeah, we could call our festival 'Music For Muscles', what do you think?" . That, my friend, fits like a glove.

 Once again as in the previous two years we immediately got support from Val and Gary, the landlady and landlord of our venue and the same from the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, who, once again, had an open arms attitude, so in that respect we were prepared early on.

I started to have more meetings with people to try to make sure they could visualise what I was trying to achieve and how help was imperative to me and others. People came in droves, I went to meet the Aylesbury united walking football team, A Marathon man and friends who wanted to cycle 26 miles and every one of them had their own element of competition to it. Mark Sammon was going to 'Race The Relay' and run his Marathon in a record time, Dean Murray and Wayne Martinig were persuaded by me after Bradley Wiggins took on his hour challenge, to cycle their 26.2 miles in under 90 Minutes, Hayley and Tommy Lloyd scooting round in Super Hero outfits. Then there was Graham and Hannah Cocker running around Stockport, Cheshire, training tied together at the ankle in preparation for the big day, no charity t-shirt, no sign of the fact they were entering into a charity event, no explanation whatsoever why they was tied together. That still makes me smile. That said, it's probably a good time to say what an effort people were making to be here and be part of this too. People were coming from all over England to be part of this and I do mean from all over, Cornwall, Cambridge, Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Warwickshire and our great friend, Jo from Yorkshire.

Over the last few months I was burning the candle at both ends and constantly staying in touch with people to make sure they were reassured and everything was still on and it was actually happening. So many people had put the date in their diaries very early on, it was becoming very overwhelming and by that I mean in a supportive, feeling loved, kind of way. 

Family friend, Marie Johnson started up our raffle and little did I know that it would be a massive contributor to our 'Just giving' page, in the end. As well as the board game invented by Sheralee which pretty much instantly raised a few hundred pounds, plus my mum's sweet game too! Thank you, Ladies. 

As we run up to our event I presented at my works town hall meeting and presented to all of my colleagues, it was one of the hardest things I've done. To stand in front of everyone you work with and tell them everything about yourself, I really did open my heart, it felt painful to say some words because I was talking about my own reality and a future I may face and then, at the end, I had to ask for help...

Turns out albeit petrifying, it was a good thing to do as all employee donations would be doubled. The last few weeks I took part in a few radio shows and pod casts and then that was it, it was upon us, Mile For Muscles - Count me In, was here.

30th August 2015.

Of all the days in the year, this was one where I did not want to wake up with any pain or issues with my legs and low and behold my legs where shaking from above the knee, downwards. I could not let anyone know, Michelle kept asking and I said I was fine. I was not bothered about anything else. Reserve runners were in place, bands ready to play, BBQ being stoked, raffle full to the brim and 26 groups of people, individual runners, two cyclists, one Marathon Man and one swimmer all chomping at the bit, despite the weather. Everyone was raring to go, to cover their mile and carry on cheering for the whole day.

At 11:00 it started, our eldest daughter, Lucie, set off with relay baton. Over the last few months I was compiling 'Participant profiles' to get some insight as to why people were getting involved with 'Mile For Muscles - Count Me in'. It was a chance for an introduction from everyone, to everyone else. I think they worked well and the day before the event Lucie explained in hers that she was a carrier of the Muscular Dystrophy gene. Lucie hardly ever talks about this and was another reason for me to be gratified and also why, as a family, we do what we do.

After Lucie quickly set off some of us jumped in the car to get to the stadium to witness the first baton exchange and to encourage and cheer everyone on. Lucie passed the baton to my future son-in-law, Nick and he was off like a rocket! As were the next few runners and it really was happening, what I had thought for a long time as a dream was coming true right before my eyes. I cannot take you through everyone's miles because I wasn't at both ends of the relay and also, I cannot talk from your perspective and I wouldn't want any credit for what you did. And actually that was part of the point. It was only on the day that I saw how much pride people were taking in 'their mile', enthusiastically grabbing it, shouting about it and taking ownership.

I think it was about mile 12 when it started to rain and it didn't stop. The relentless, fine rain that is well known to soak you through. You really wouldn't of known, no spirits were dampened. The runners kept coming along with the cheers and smiles, I was on cloud nine.

Towards the end I had a feeling of anxiety in my stomach, A mix of pride and nervousness. During this year Michelle started to run in the evenings and she was to be the penultimate mile, mile 25. I remember looking up the road and Michelle was running towards me with the baton and that was it for me, absolutely, totally, rewarded with pride and emotion.

I received the baton and a cuddle and I was off, I had to think of something to get me to the end, what could it be, think Martin! It was beer, I chose beer to get me to the end and it was very painful but it worked. All joking aside, it was also for a very special young man that was asleep beside me most of the way in a buggy and also other friends boys who I've spoke about this year. My mile was for Finley, Leo, Tommy and thousands more.

The reception we received was incredible and I am extremely proud of how all my family and friends celebrated everyone that took part. I'm not quite finished here... The last mile was also walked by my friend Steve Davies who has Beckers Muscular Dystrophy and how amazing that was to see. Someone equally as stubborn and determined as me making so much effort to complete this challenge and together, at the end, we laughed in the face of adversity and it felt bloody brilliant! This was the first time I had met Steve, we knew each other through mutual friends on social media and this event compounded not only this but many friendships.

Even now I'm still tired, both physically and mentally but it was worth it. Lastly, I set a target of £6000 on our 'Just Giving' page. This was because £5880 will pay for a full weeks research into Muscular Dystrophy, 168 hours of research paid for by our event. The total right now is £5622.97 and we have £1000 to go on from the owners of Phlexglobal. Needless to say, we smashed it!

As I said in my very own participant profile, I don't think I'll ever be able to thank all you very selfless people enough.


With all my heart, Thank You!

Sir Ludwig Guttmann

Ludwig Guttmann, the eldest child of the family, was born in Tost, within Upper Silesia, Germany (now Toszek, Poland) on 3 July 1899.

'Poppa' statue at Stoke Mandeville.

Guttmann first encountered a patient with a spinal cord injury in 1917, while he was volunteering at the Accident Hospital in Konigshutte. The patient was a coal miner who later died of sepsis. Guttmann started his medical studies in April 1918 at the University of Breslau. He transferred to the University of Freiburg in 1919 and received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1924.

By 1933, Guttmann was considered the top neurosurgeon in Germany. With the arrival of the Nazis in power, Jews were banned from practising medicine professionally and he was allowed to work only at the Jewish Hospital in Breslau, where he became director of the hospital. Following the violent attacks on Jewish people and properties during Kristallnacht on 9 November 1938, Guttmann ordered his staff to admit anyone without question. The following day he justified his decision on a case-by-case basis with the Gestapo. Out of 64 admissions, 60 patients were saved from arrest and deportation to concentration camps.

In early 1939, Guttmann and his family left Germany because of the Nazi persecution of the Jews. An opportunity for escape arose when the Nazis provided him with a visa and ordered him to travel to Portugal to treat a friend of the Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar.

In September 1943 the British government asked Dr Guttmann to establish the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. When the centre opened on 1 February 1944, Guttmann was appointed its director (a position he held until 1946). As director of the UK's first specialist unit for treating spinal injuries, he believed that sport was a major method of therapy for injured military personnel helping them build up physical strength and self-respect.

Guttmann became a naturalised citizen of the United Kingdom in 1945. He organised the first Stoke Mandeville Games for disabled persons on 28 July 1948, the same day as the start of the London 1948 Summer Olympics. Dr Guttmann used the term paraplegic games for national games held in order to encourage his patients to take part. This came to be known as the "Paralympics," which only later became the "Parallel Games" and included other disabilities.

His vision of an international games the equivalent of the Olympic Games themselves was realized in 1960 when the International Stoke Mandeville Games were held alongside the official 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Known at the time as the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, and organised under the aegis of the World Federation of Ex-servicemen (an International Working Group on Sport for the Disabled), they are now recognized as the first Paralympic Games.

As "Neurological Surgeon in charge of the Spinal Injuries Centre at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Stoke Mandeville", he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1950 King's Birthday Honours. On 28 June 1957, he was made an Associate Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John.

He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 1966, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Guttmann gave many injured soldiers and disabled people a purpose in life, a selfless man who enhanced people’s lives when many had written them off, simply masking their pain with drugs rather than make the effort to rehabilitate.Introducing physiotherapy as a medical treatment and making others above realise how imperative that was. 

All of this and the ethos of inclusion and giving people that purpose in life is probably why I can get into a football stadium today, probably part of the reason we have equality law in the workplace, probably why you see ‘Positive About Disability’ at the bottom of most pieces of paper in any business, and he is definitely the reason we see the Paralympics every four years.

Ludwig Guttmann died on the 18th of March, 1980 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, so much more than the neurologist he set out to be in his life. Even with his honours I still believe he’s an unsung hero, a global one at that.

On the 7th March 2014, BBC2 showed us the life of this great man, excellently played by Eddie Marsan in the entertaining drama 'The Best Of Men' and I implore you to go and look it up.

Far from delusions of grandeur of which he was accused, Guttmann didn't care for his own importance or well being, he cared for the importance and well being of others.

Thank you, Poppa.

(All dates confirmed, courtesy of Wiki)

On The Cusp of Something Great

I’m not sure why but this weekend feels like a half way point, for me. We’ve got 8 Weeks (!) until our ‘Mile for Muscles’ and yet I started to plan this in September last year. I have no reasoning for feeling like this but it feels good. 

As you’ve seen I have been asking people two questions and posted their participant profiles online. Who are you? Why are you taking part in mile for muscles? As I’ve said before now, these are entirely up to that individual and the answers are unedited (as you would have seen from Phil’s).

I’ve been so impressed with so many friends and family and I feel very humbled by some of the things that have been said. I just want people to know about these conditions and try to help a little, that’s all.

Michelle is now part of a running club and I couldn’t be prouder, as I said already, it doesn’t matter how slow she runs, she’s faster than the Michelle from one month ago. Our friend Marie started to text me last weekend to tell me that she wanted to organise a raffle and take all the hassle of it away from me. Marie posted about that on social media, said who and what it was for and had gifts at her feet within minutes. Paul Adams is cracking on with the music element for ‘Music for Muscles’ and Val, the landlady of the Aristocrat is always asking what she can do for us and if I’m ok with everything. My father-in-law, John, will be making sandwiches and more to keep everyone fed on the day and with all this I’m starting to feel a sense of unity. This really hit home with me after I posted a profile last weekend of my friend Hayley and Nathan Still put the comment ‘Welcome on board’, something so simple but kept me smiling for ages! I really enjoy seeing things like that. We are a team and everyone should be celebrated for what they are doing, that means now and on the day, so I second what Nathan said and I say it to all of you with gratitude and heartfelt thanks.

One thing I must put some emphasis on and forgot to last week was the fact that people are travelling to do this and not from just round the corner either. Last weekend I also did profiles on Gray and Jo. Gray will be coming from Lancashire to run his mile and Jo will be coming from West Yorkshire to run her mile, with family in tow too. I think that’s massive and I apologise for not mentioning it before now. 

Runners from all over the UK, incl the fantastic Jo!

Since doing these profiles I’ve had two people get in touch with me that wanted to raise the bar even more, to challenge themselves, to help us. Dean Murray was going to originally cycle a mile on his bike but has now decided to cycle the whole 26 miles and he also wants to try to do this in less than 90 minutes. I’m speaking to MD UK at this minute to get you a cycling shirt, Dean. Thank you!

You may also remember Mark Sammon who I introduced as one of our elite runners. Mark was moved by BBC newsnight this week which featured the story about Translarna, a drug which needs funding for boys with Duchenne. Mark commented on Facebook, “I watched this tonight and it really brings home the anguish of the parents – we must do more! I have an idea and I’ll message you about it tomorrow.”

Mark, The Marathon Man, with wife, Lou

Like Dean, Mark has challenged himself because he can (his own words), Mark has decided to run a marathon that day. Mark will run 26.2 miles as if he was in London doing it officially and as far as I know, nobody has ever run a marathon for charity in Aylesbury before. Also, Mark wants to add an element of fun and competitiveness to this, he would like to ‘Race the Relay’. Who will be fastest, us or Mark? 

All this information will be added to and adjusted on our team Just Giving page.

So we have a few more elements added to what I hope is a great day and people are really overwhelming me with support and care.

Mark will set off at 11:00 or 12:30 depending on the weather. My daughter, Lucie will start the relay at 12:00 and Dean will set off at 14:00, so we will all, hopefully, finish near the same time.

The hardest part of any charity event, for me, is asking people for donations and money. I must say this has been a little different; I’m arranging lots of different parts of this marathon and that’s great, busy but productive and full of positivity. The problem I have is actually walking but I’m told not to worry as we have a wheelbarrow ready to get me to the finish if needs must. I won’t let that happen.

I’m like the rest of you, I’m in training for a very special day and it bloody hurts. I am trying to walk the last mile of this marathon and it might not seem like much but it is when you can hardly walk at all. A great runner once said to me ‘A challenge is a challenge because it’s relative to that person’. If anyone could add any money or share our page and our story with others then that would be greatly appreciated. The target is set to what it is because that equates to one full week of research paid for by us and I think we can raise that much.

Imagine if a scientist had a 'eureka' moment and that was financed by something we did, together?

“Remember that day in 2015 when we raised that cash and funded that research, which found that treatment, fantastic wasn’t it!”

Thank you all, for everything. 

30/08/15

#MileForMuscles

#CountMeIn

TEXT:-  MMFM92 
             £5, £10, £20  (or any amount)
To:-       70070

https://www.justgiving.com/Martin-Hywood2