Runner to take on marathon for spinal injury charity

A FROME man will be running the London Marathon next Sunday in aid of a spinal cord injury charity.

Jack Harrington will run the marathon to raise money for a charity that has helped his dad, Jonathon, who injured his back in a hiking accident in 2005. Jack is hoping to raise £2,500 for the Back Up Trust.

He told Frome Times, “I’m supporting Back Up because its support for  people with spinal cord injuries is invaluable.

“My dad, known for his independent and eccentric behaviour, lost his footing descending down a ravine on Cadair Idris, Snowdonia on Christmas Day 2005.

“His back hit a solid rock, severing his spine, and he had no manoeuvrability. Earlier I had got a phone call from the summit of Cadair Idris and the joy and exhilaration in his voice was clear to hear.  I was confident my Dad would have no issues getting back down the mountain, but sadly this wasn’t the case.”

Jack is no stranger to running or to fundraising. He is a member of Frome Running Club and appeared in Frome Times last year when he ran the Rome Marathon for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) charity, and when he played golf for 17 hours straight, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

This time the fundraising will hit closer to home as he follows in the footsteps of his dad, now 62, who ran the marathon the same year as his accident, when Jack was 16.

Jack added, “In April 2005 I watched my dad run the London Marathon. It was special to support him and I was proud to see him achieving something he wanted to tick off his bucket list, whilst raising awareness of a charity close to his heart.

“12 years on, the roles are going to reverse a little and I’m going to be proud to run for the Back Up cause who have supported him since his injury.

“He was in hospital for 11 months being rehabilitated and, afterwards, the Back Up Trust was on hand to support him. They have taught him wheelchair skills and he has even been skiing with the charity since.

“If any of the Frome community could support this amazing charity I would be wholeheartedly grateful.”

To contribute to Jack’s fundraiser go to www.just giving.com/fundraising/Jack-Harrington1988