Please sponsor me for running a 10K... again!

Hello fellow 606v2ers.

Those of you who know me (or know me through the internet at least) will know me as the jovial and athletic former amateur prop who cannae play anymore due to a gammy leg. Others will know me as the moaning jock who won't shut up about Scottish underrepresentation in the Lions   .

I come to you in peace today to try and raise money for a good cause. Yes, Yes, Yes the chunky former prop is again ritually humiliating himself on the streets of Glasgow in October when I again take part in the great Scottish run. My previous time of 1 hour 11 minutes and 38 seconds wasn't bad but this year I'm aiming to complete the run in under an hour.

I took part in the run last year running for help for heroes, a great charity who do a lot of good work, this year I wanted to run for a charity that means a lot to me personally, so I looked to rugby.

On the C4 programme Embarrassing Bodies I heard about the story of young former England U21 prop Matt Hampson. I normally don’t watch Embarrassing Bodies, too much blood and guts for my liking, however Mrs Radge watches it regularly, most likely because she has a massive crush on Dr Christian, but that’s another story.

On the programme they covered the story of Matt Hampson who was paralyzed from the neck down when a scrum collapsed whilst training for a match with Scotland U21 in the run up to U21 6N game. Here is a brief outline of what happened courtesy of Wikipedia.

Matt Hampson was a promising England under 21 England prop when he suffered a terrible accident that rendered him paralyzed from the neck down.

Hampson's accident happened on Tuesday 15 March 2005 at Franklin's Gardens, when the England U21 team were preparing for an under 21 Six Nations match against Scotland. In what he described as a freak accident, a scrum collapsed and dislocated his neck, severing his spinal cord. Referee and former paramedic Tony Spreadbury was praised for his quick reaction to stabilise Hampson's neck, saving him even further damage that could have resulted in his death.

Hampson was taken first to Northampton General Hospital and then to the specialist spine unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had an operation to relocate his spine. He spent several months in Stoke Mandeville, where he contracted a life-threatening Clostridium difficile infection.

Hampson requires the permanent use of a ventilator to breathe.

Far from letting this injury deter him Matt established the Matt Hampson foundation http://www.matthampsonfoundation.org/ where they provide advice, support, relief and/or treatment for anyone suffering serious injury or disability which has arisen from any cause, but in particular from participation in or training for any sport, sporting activity or other form of physical education or recreation. They mainly assist people who have received such injuries in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland but that does not preclude them from helping those in other parts of the World who need urgent assistance.

They assist individuals by offering direct grants or by paying into existing and future funds to assist with equipment, technology or just every-day expenses. They also assist organisations and institutions whose aims are similar to their own and who also provide relief and treatment to those who have suffered injuries as described above. Through Matt Hampson, the Foundation is also able to offer mentoring, friendship and education. Very often a chat with somebody such as Matt who has been through it, ‘got the t-shirt’ and overcome many issues himself is the best assistance that injured personnel can get. Matt’s educational visits to schools and clubs provide understanding and can be extremely motivational to those who hear him talk about his experiences and his zest for life.

As you can see this is a fantastic charity lead by a man who has become an inspiration to me and an example to all of us on what we can do, despite what challenges life puts in our way.

So if you have read through this to the end, please dig deep and sponsor me for this run and give me whatever you can.

My aim is to complete this run in under an hour, a tough challenge for me so I'll finish with a rugby related quote :

"To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible."


Sponsor me here : http://www.justgiving.com/Graham-Gulvin1

Many Thanks
Graham Gulvin AKA RuggerRadge2611

P.S. no laughing at my pic  

At the way you are trying to pull your belly in..

I will give you a pound.

"To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible."

Scott Johnson should have nailed this to the wall in the Scotland dressing room prior to the match at the weekend! Then we may have seen at least one Samoan stopped before the advantage line!

Nice one Radge. PM me if you need some tips - I have been doing 10Ks for years and know the Glasgow GSR very well. Even if you want a beer post run ?

Meanwhile back to that photo - jeez mate, you sure about this !!!!!!!

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Nice one Radge.   PM me if you need some tips - I have been doing 10Ks for years and know the Glasgow GSR very well.    Even if you want a beer post run ?

Meanwhile back to that photo - jeez mate, you sure about this !!!!!!!  

This is my 2nd time round Schiz! A post run drink would be good, I'll have to lay off the pints though. 2 reasons.

1. I have to drive home to the Detroit of Scotland AKA Kirkcaldy
2. I seriously doubt Mo Farah and all the running athletes would satisfy themselves with Pints post run... I'm a serious athlete now!  

And my picture is awesome.... I look athletic and hungry. Very hungry I could have murdered a Pizza when that photo was taken!  

Noted dude. Let me know nearer the time. Good charity too my man !

Radge Man,

how is the training going with a week to go ? Lovely and sunny here today so I am getting out for a longish run. Had a slow time at the Glasgow Parkrun yesterday so still recovering from holiday excesses !

http://greatscottishrun.com/Results/NameSearch.aspx?r=601&surname=gulvin

big thank you to all who sponsored me, I trundled over the line in a very respectable 01 hour 04 minutes 16 seconds. Happy with that.

Schiz, I have been away with work for the last 4 weeks, so my training went ok. Was pounding the hills of Sheffield, knackering stuff.

well done

Radge,

excellent effort mate.

I know Sheffield well as my sister in law lives there - in a really hilly part- done some running there too. I went round in 48.01 so well off my pb but i thoroughly enjoyed the whole occasion as always.

How is the charity going anyway ?