Ultra marathon

Running a 100km marathon is not for the feint-hearted – but try doing it with an injury sustained just three weeks before the big day. That is exactly what Neil Davis is doing, along with his friend and running partner Joe Alderslade.

The pair are running in memory of a former colleague, Win Patterson, previously deputy head at St Crispin’s School, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Both also former teachers at St Crispin’s, they have been training twice a week, running between seven and 10 miles until Neil tripped in a pothole and nearly broke his ankle. Yet despite the injury, he is still determined to take part in the event on June 16th and 17th.

The pair have completed three together before including the Race to the Stones and Race to the Tower and this time it is the Race to the King. Designed to challenge the most experienced Ultra participant, whilst providing the perfect entry point for those taking on their first ultra-marathon, the 100km takes you on a journey to the Chichester coast before looping back to Goodwood Racecourse and out towards Arundel Castle and the heights of the South Downs.

Neil said: “Win was more than just a boss to us. We have taken part in ultra-marathons before, sometimes to raise money for MND research and sometimes to try and raise the profile. Our target this time was £900 and just yesterday we hit the £1,600 mark.”

Win retired as deputy head in the summer of 2018 and was diagnosed just six months later. He passed away in February 2020 just before Covid hit.

Neil said: “We have been in contact with his wife and daughter on a regular basis and they have been very supportive of our fundraising efforts. It is frustrating because we were hoping to beat our previous time but even if I have to walk some of it, I am determined to complete it.”

And he added the recent exposure given to the disease by rugby player Rob Burrow MBE was amazing. “We are in absolute awe of what he has been able to achieve. It makes our efforts look very poor in comparison. But hopefully we will do Win proud.”

If you would like to donate to the cause, visit https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/neil-joe