Four marathons in four days
As I write this, I sit here with aching legs, sore feet and a sleepy head but with a warm glow and a huge sense of achievement having finished four marathons in four days for Prostate Cancer UK as part of their annual Football March event.
The first one in Manchester had a sunny start and a rainy end. However, getting my finisher’s medal from Mike Summerbee (of England and Man City fame) as I did four years ago made everything worthwhile as he, like me, has been touched by prostate cancer and if you are in this horrible club you take joy in anyone’s continued survival I can tell you.
Next up, after a five-hour drive, arriving in Portsmouth at 1am, was the march to Southampton. As always, there were great stories from those around me and the daily honour of me giving the final motivational “rah rah” to the heroic walkers as we set off.
My highlight was being met by Franny Benali MBE, the ex Southampton FC legend. I had met him twice before on previous marches and to walk the last few miles with him again was an honour because, despite having no link with the charity, he still took the time to keep us all going as those legs started to ache for the last few miles.
After a drive that night to Birmingham, I finally got to walk with Ian Tetsill who’d selflessly got me around the previous days. I love being with Ian, not just because he is a great bloke but also because he is a survivor of prostate cancer and now helps others. That’s where I want everyone to be one day who gets this disease.
The last day, in London, flew by after starting at my beloved AFC Wimbledon. Like all the clubs en route they looked after us royally. However, the drama that day was not the march but being held up on the M40 for five hours following a fatal accident just in front of us.
Sitting in the traffic jam that followed – and while walking the next day – brought home how lucky we all were just to be a part of that event as life has no guarantees and no one knows what tomorrow will bring.
That’s why, as you read this, I hope you too make the most of today and every day.
Until next week, Kev
‘‘ Getting my medal from Mike Summerbee made it all worthwhile