Paddy Bishopp - Running The Marathon For The Sma Trust

Posted by Paddy on 10/09/2011

One thing you may not know about me is that I am about to run my 1st marathon, Amsterdam on October 16th. This marathon run started off as a personal challenge, the fact that even though always being a runner I had never run a marathon. Training is going well, I suffer from very bad shin splints which limits the days I can run but I have been averaging 3-4 runs per week and am up to 18 miles in training. The point of this information is purely for one reason, I want you to know  I will complete this. The main reason I will complete this though is not for me,it is no longer just a personal challenge, it is for my chosen charity, The SMA Trust, Funding Research into Spinal Muscular Atrophy and dedicated to Freddie Sheffield, a 13 year old who suffers from this devastating and life inhibiting condition.

So why The SMA Trust? I do believe charity starts up home and when a friend of ours introduced me to her nephew Freddie Sheffield, who suffers from SMA I was hooked, mainly because of what an amazing person he is, aged 13, but having been diagnosed with SMA at 18 months. When I investigated further it amazed me how many people do suffer and how, at this stage, there is no cure.

SMA is a serious genetic muscle wasting disease that affects thousands of people in the UK and abroad, of all ages, races and backgrounds. In more severe cases of SMA, children do not survive past their second birthday.

Freddie has been confined to a wheelchair since he was 18 months old and relies on other people in everything he does. he has recently undergone major spinal surgery to help with his physical disability and he is gradually losing the capacity to perform simple physical tasks. However, despite his own difficulties, he is very bright and positive about helping others with SMA.

Freddie himself, with some family and friends just completed a demanding 100 mile exhibition by wheelchair from the west coast to the east coast of England, along Hadrian's Wall in Northumbria.

Now, if he can do that, the least I can do is run a marathon

For more information on The SMA Trust please visit  www.smatrust.org or www.madchallenge.org or if you would like to donate to this cause please visit my Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/Patrick-Bishopp