BIG HEARTED runner Jason Smith is doing the Virtual London Marathon this Sunday, October 4 – just a fortnight after fully recovering from a dose of coronavirus.
And he’s doing it for a good cause too – the charity Reach which helps children with upper limb differences, anything from missing fingers to missing hands and arms.
“It’s a charity very close to our hearts as I am the branch co-ordinator for the West Midlands branch of the charity and organise events for the families to attend,” said Jason’s fiancee Tracey, who is also just over a bout of Covid-19.
“With the marathon re-scheduled the charity found it had a place available and Jason jumped at it, even though he’s done hardly any training.”
Reach in the West Midlands helps more than 40 families dealing with the effects of limb-loss in children.
“We would normally hold get-togethers and meetings because it’s so important for the children to realise that they are not on their own and there are others like them,” said Tracey.
“We deal with children from tiny babies right up to our oldest youngster who is now 21.
“We’ve tried to stay in contact during lockdown but it’s been very difficult and it now looks like the Christmas party we’d planned will now not go ahead.”
Depite coronavirus, Tracey reckons they caught it when they ‘ate out to help out’ – and then passed it on to her parents, who have also both recovered – she’s confident Jason can tackle the distance.
“He’s karate instructor and I’m so proud of him – we even found a Reach flag for him to carry on the run.”
The couple, from Sheldon, are appealing for people to sponsor Jason and they can do so by following this link: https://www.givey.com/jasonisrunningforreach2020
For more on Reach, visit www.reach.org.uk.
