GRIFFEN 2024 | 19 Mathew Browne (2002) Mathew came 8th in the ABP Southampton Marathon on 2 April 2023. Mathew commented that running through St Mary’s Stadium was a particularly emotional experience as he is a lifelong Portsmouth fan. Mathew ran the marathon in training for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. He and colleagues at the Abingdon based Chartered Accountants ‘UHY Ross Brooke’ raised money for ShelterBox by walking the 12-hour route at the end of April. Krystian Volak (1982) Krystian completed the Marathon des Sables in 2014. Day four: a brutal double marathon day. I searched the terrain for life; there wasn’t any. I looked again; the only indication that there might once have been were tiny, skeleton-like trees. They were bleached and brittle and might have been dead for a number of years. I climbed out of a dried riverbed and onto a plateau that stretched many miles into the shimmering distance. The ground was hard and hot and covered with a layer of sharp stones. My feet felt as if they were about to combust. Danny’s feet had blistered badly – skin separating from skin. By day two, he had covered every square inch of his feet with anti-blister tape. Danny was one of seven I was sharing a tent with, many of whom were suffering with acute blistering. Our tent had begun to resemble a field hospital – tape and iodine-soaked bandaging being constantly applied to feet and ankles. I had run out of water three miles earlier and with another two miles before the next checkpoint, my mouth had started to dry out. My tongue was lumpy and glutinous. I tried to spit; I didn’t have the energy to wipe it away and it quickly evaporated. At the last checkpoint, I had retched-up half my water allocation, leaving me short before I started the next nine miles. ‘You’re going through a low-point right now, but you will get through it and it will get easier,’ a concerned Brit had explained moments before, ‘up and down, that’s how it works, but you must eat something now.’ I replied that it was the energy bars, all I had, that were making me sick. His response: ‘That’s irrelevant – force them down.’ So I took a bite. Immediately, I brought my precious water back up onto the African sand. I left the bar for the Saharan insects. The Marathon des Sables claims to be the toughest footrace in the world, involving six marathons over six days in temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. The marathon covers Saharan dunes, vast plateaus and rocky outcrops. On top of this, competitors are required to carry their food, clothing and bedding for the duration of the event. Of 1150 starters, only 800 crossed the finish line. By any measure, it was an extraordinary experience and even ten years on, I ask myself why I chose to take part. I had never even run a marathon before. To this day, I still don’t know the answer to this question, but I am, without a doubt, immensely glad to have done it. Paul Bowker (1980) Paul also completed the Marathon des Sables in 2013. Running Mathew Browne Krystian Volak Paul Bowker On 10 July 2021, my dad was preparing to race in the semi-final of Henley Masters Regatta, having won his heat the day before. As he was getting ready, he collapsed in the shower. Moments later, he was rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery. That was the day my dad suffered a stroke. The next 18 months were a major dynamic shift, not just for dad, but also for my family and myself. We watched dad regain his ability to walk, eat, drink, get dressed, and in time, even making wisecracks again (mostly at the expense of myself and my mum). Dad’s road to recovery has been the single most inspiring journey I have ever witnessed. We have laughed and we have mourned. We have shed tears of grief and of joy. There have been ecstatic highs and crashing lows. But despite everything, dad shows up every day and puts in the work. I set myself the goal of running my first marathon to raise awareness about stroke. In April, I ran the Brighton Marathon for the Stroke Association. I asked dad why he thought people should donate to this cause. He said: “The jury’s still out on what causes strokes because I shouldn’t have had one. Good diet, exercise, retired – why should I have had a stroke? A lot more needs to be done research-wise. We need to think outside the box.” The campaigning, research and fundraising the Stroke Association does is incredible. They also provide clinics for stroke survivors and countless resources, including rehabilitation aid and specialist support. I wanted to give back to this amazing organisation which has helped my family on a number of occasions. I had set a target to raise £400. Even after the marathon, donations still came pouring in. In total, 79 supporters managed to raise £1557 that went towards life-changing research around stroke and resources for stroke survivors. Mum and dad came and supported me on race day, feeding me nut butter and banana bagels, providing water and cheering support to get me over the finish line. By mile 16, I was broken and convinced I would not finish. But the thought of dad’s battle with his own body got me to put one foot in front of the other for the next 10 miles. It is truly a privilege to be able to stress about your body, especially in something as ultimately trivial as a marathon. Dad would give anything to be able to run again. I did not want to take that for granted. I could not have completed this amazing achievement without a strong “why”, and I am truly grateful to everyone who kept that North Star burning bright in front of me while I trained and raced. Whether it was a donation, words of support, running with me or spreading the word, I really could not have done it without them. Thank you to all my friends, family and onlookers who helped us do something amazing for the Stroke Association. Tom Keogh (2007)
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