My Story

After taking up running in February 2021 (having never even run for a bus before!) and to celebrate turning 40 years old, I undertook a challenge of running 40 races in 12 months in memory of my Granddad who passed away in December 2021 at the age of 100. When I completed the 40th race at the Great North Run I was asked what my next crazy challenge would be...the London Marathon seemed like the logical (and slightly terrifying) next step which would allow me to keep raising funds for Blind Veterans UK who were an amazing support to my Granddad.

Granddad was someone who truly didn't give up, this is something I remind myself of when running...dig deep then dig deeper!  It is something I know I will need to keep in mind to get to the end of a marathon!

On February 15th 1942, Granddad was captured at Singapore by the Japanese. He had to stand at the side of the road while the victorious Japanese paraded by and was then imprisoned in Changi camp for several months.  He was then taken by train up into Thailand where he was put to work on the notorious Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway.  He spent nearly 3 years on the railway, including building the embankment for the Bridge over the River Kwai, until the Japanese decided to move most of the prisoners to Japan.  He was taken by prison ship (Hell Ships) to Brunei Bay in Borneo. From there, they sailed to the Philippines where the ship was torpedoed by an American submarine and sank in minutes.  The ship was the Hofuku Maru transporting 1317 Australian and British POW's. A total of 1159 died when the ship sank.  He was rescued by nearby Japanese patrol boats which were attacked the following day by American fighters and also sunk.  Eventually local fishing boats took them to the mainland with the prisoners being taken to Bilibid Prison in Manila where they stayed until liberated by American troops some months later.  Granddad turned 100 years old on November 29th 2021 and, at the time, would have been one of the youngest surviving British soldiers to be captured at Singapore.  

In his later years Granddad was supported considerably by Blind Veterans UK.  They helped us with sorting out a range of allowances and benefits that we weren't aware he was entitled to, gave him countless things to help with his eyesight including a machine that would read books aloud, a talking clock and his treasured "the time is now..." watch.  They also braved taking him away on a trip to Llandudno with other ex-Service men and women.  They had a measurable impact on his quality of life, particularly in the last few years when his eyesight had substantially deteriorated.  I know he would be proud (as well as slightly bemused) of my challenge to help Blind Veterans support others the way they supported him.