THE CHALLENGES INVOLVED IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY TEST
Dealing with the risks are part of what makes a London Marathon attempt such an extraordinary challenge for Matt Hampson and his team.
Paralysed from the neck down and breathing with the aid of a ventilator, Matt’s marathon debut in April will be assisted by four support runners who have undertaken extra training to keep him safe as well as building their own stamina to run 26 miles.
Josie Ledbetter, head of the rehab team at the Matt Hampson Foundation which supports young people following life-changing injury in sport, says: “It is a big old challenge – Matt describes it as his mountain.”
Using a ventilator carries unique issues in terms of dealing with ‘pop-offs’ and potential blockages or breaks so the team have had extra training to deal with any issues.
Physical challenge
Other challenges include the potential pressure risk of Matt sitting in one position for several hours in a racing chair, regular catheter maintenance during a long day, addressing any signs of autonomic dysreflexia where Matt’s body senses pain below the level of his injury and also monitoring and adjusting for any weather situation as he is unable to regulate body temperature.
Josie acted as Matt’s physiotherapist even before joining the team when the Foundation opened its Get Busy Living Centre near Melton Mowbray and acknowledges his drive to take on such a major physical challenge.
“Matt has been ambitious from day one,” says Josie who will also be in London as a support runner for a Foundation beneficiary. “He dreams big and ‘no’ is not an answer so I am not surprised that he wants to do it.”
Matt and his support team are getting used to the bespoke racing chair while building their training mileage and they completed the Leicestershire Half-marathon in February as another stepping stone towards London.
Any emergency
“The team have a better understanding of my needs now and how to look after me in an emergency,” says Matt.
“It’s all part of what makes this a challenge and that’s what I wanted.”
Follow more of Matt’s progress, interviews with the team and updates on their training on the Foundation social media channels and the dedicated Matt’s Marathon section on the website.
By completing the London Marathon, Matt hopes to raise £100,000 towards changing more young lives and his sponsorship page is open now.
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