Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
First race is a really wonderful experience
An Airdrie runner who raised funds to bring the first Joelette racing wheelchair to UK events says its debut at the Great Scottish Run was “one of the most fulfilling races I’ve ever done”.
Nelson Liddle first saw the chair in action at the 2014 Rome marathon and has worked since then to bring it to Scotland, completing a series of five coastto-coast marathons to raise the money needed.
He then recruited “pilots” Alan Guy and Gemma Strachan, who have cerebral palsy, to be the first to try it out at the recent half-marathon in Glasgow; and formed a team of nine volunteers to pull it around the 13.1-mile course from George Square to the finishing line at Glasgow Green.
Now he intends to bring the Joelette to a series of events even closer to home – including the Monklands half-marathon next May – as well as arranging its inaugural marathon appearance.
He told the Advertiser: “It was wonderful – the Great Scottish Run is a fantastic course and it was a real thrill to be completing it with the Joelette.
“I love doing the Great Scottish Run as the people of Glasgow are fantastic and there was no better place to have the launch; it was really uplifting.
“There was lots of support for us; the crowds were terrific and the other runners were incredible all the way round and really admired what we were doing.
“Alan set out first and had the big, high-energy start and going over the Kingston Bridge; he was a real extrovert and loved playing to the crowds!
“Gemma took over in the pilot seat at Pollok Park and then did the rest of the race and got to go over the finishing line; they were both fantastic pilots.
“All the work has been very fulfilling. I’d had this dream for more than two years so to have it realised was very emotional; I was tearful when we crossed the line.”
The Joelette’s arrival in Scotland was accelerated after its manufacturers were able to help Nelson source a second-hand model, costing £2000; meaning that he was able to bring it to Scotland earlier than planned for the memorable Glasgow debut.
Nelson said: “The big push was then to recruit runners, which we did through social media and an outdoors show.
“There were people involved from all over Scotland – some travelled from Inverness and Arbroath, as well as Salsburgh runner Ted McPake.
“It was tough to pull the Joelette round the course but everyone in the team said that they wanted to do it again.
“We’re going to be doing the Santa Dash in Cumbernauld and next year’s Monklands halfmarathon – I’m really looking forward to bringing the Joelette home, and our target is to have children as pilots for the Santa run.
“It will also be used at the Stirling marathon, which will be the first over that distance in a Joelette, and we have teams of runners for both the men’s and women’s 10k races in Glasgow.”
Nelson is working towards charitable status for his organisation, Joelette and People Experiences ( Japes), and is already planning to raise funds to bring a second racing wheelchair to Scotland.
The Advertiser told in August how the 51-year-old, who took up running seven years ago, ran five marathons to raise £1400 for Japes.
Nelson, an English teacher at Portland High in Coatbridge, added: “It’s been like training for a marathon in terms of getting all the funding and tracking down a Joelette.
“Then it’s all come around so quickly to reach this first time that one has been used at a mass participation running event in the UK, to give pilots who face mobility challenges on a daily basis the chance to experience the atmosphere and thrill.
“I’m really grateful to the Great Run Company and all our sponsors and supporters who made this happen.
“The first £ 1.30 of all the fundraising was given to me by a boy at Portland High when I told him about this dream and that’s always been a great motivation.”
For more information on Nelson’s project, including how to donate, visit www.japes. scot; or to volunteer as a runner or nominate a young person for the experience, email info@ japes.scot.
I’m really grateful to the Great Run Company and all our sponsors and supporters who made this happen