David completes 30 in 30 challenge
This weekend, three times HBSA Disabled Sportsperson of the year David Williamson completed an incredible 30 wheelchair marathons in 30 days. A triumph never been achieved before.
David completed his 30th and final marathon, at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury, on Saturday. It coincided with the LimbPower MoJo MaraFun Day, one of two charities he is raising money for. He said:
“I knew going into this event that it would be the biggest, hardest, most daunting challenge of my life. Physically I’m exhausted, I'm beaten up and broken down from day after day of pushing over 26 miles with no time to recover and reboot. Mentally, it’s been a roller coaster of days when it’s been tough and days when it's been even tougher - those are the days when I had to really dig deep and just keep going.”
Since the 14th June David, 40, has been pushing a marathon a day, back-to-back with no rest days! He’s been using athletics tracks in the South East of England and on the sea front at Southsea.
From Petersfield in Hampshire, David had both legs amputated through the knee when he was a few months old, having been born without tibia bones.
Among his achievements, David competes in marathons and is a five-time participant in the Great South Run. David also completed a 24-hour wheelchair push and played over 300 games for South Hants Sitting Volleyball. In 2016, he was the recipient of the 2016 #WeCanDoIt Personal Achievement Award.
All funds raised from the 30 in 30 challenge will be split equally:
LimbPower: Launched in November 2009, engaging amputees and individuals with limb impairments in physical activity, sport and the arts to improve quality of life and aid lifelong rehabilitation. In July 2014 LimbPower became a National Disability Sports Organisation and working with the Activity Alliance and Sport England, helps amputees and people with limb impairment reach their sporting potential as well as providing support and resources for families and healthcare professionals.
LimbPower CEO Kiera Roche:
“What David has achieved with his 30 in 30 challenge is beyond words. Not only has he raised an amazing amount of money which will enable us to continue our work, but he has also raised awareness of disability sport by taking the dis out of disability.”
Felicity and Emerson: Three-year-old Felicity has undiagnosed genetic conditions, which the doctors think cause all of the different problems she has. She has three brain conditions, is visually impaired, has reflux and epilepsy. Felicity also has twitches every day that cannot be controlled by medication and because of the complexity of her conditions needs 24-hour care. Felicity’s parents said:
“It’s just incredible what David has put himself through. He’s an inspiration for everyone – able and less able.”
Four-year-old Emerson developed a cyst on his spine when he was just two years old, which paralysed him from the waist down. He lost all movement in his lower body and is unable to walk. Emerson’s parents said:
“David has been such an important part of Emerson’s journey so far. He’s been a real inspiration and a great role model for Emerson.”
David continues:
“Failure was never an option and at the end of the day I kept reminding myself why I was doing it – for LimbPower and for Felicity and Emerson. I was told - over and over again - that pushing 30 marathons in 30 days in a wheelchair was impossible. And I agreed. But I did it anyway."
