What or Who inspired you to run the Virgin London Marathon 2014?

Posted Thu 24th Apr 2014 at 16:05
by Diane Schadenberg

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Who or what inspired our runners o tackle 26.2 miles around our capital city?

Ashley

So why am I running the London Marathon for Tourettes action you might ask!!

As a sufferer I believe that it’s important to raise awareness of Tourettes and the impact it can have on those that suffer from it, and also those that live with it on a day to day basis. I’d like to raise funds so that those who are suffering/living with/ are offered support/advice via Tourettes Action. Who are a wonderful charity

That’s why it’s important that the charity is there so that people can gain knowledge about the syndrome and feel that they are not alone, and that you can lead a life despite suffering from Tourettes.

Hence the reason why I wish to run the marathon on behalf of Tourettes Action, to ensure that it continues with its fantastic ongoing work.

Lucy

 I’m running the marathon having been inspired by my mum who has Tourette Syndrome.

She has suffered from Tourettes ever since she can really remember and has witnessed first-hand the leaps and bounds in the progress made in research. When she was young, Tourettes was barely known at all, and now it is widely recognised with a range of viable treatments. However, I still feel there is a way to go in really understanding the disorder, as well as increasing public awareness of where the disorder stems from and life is like for its sufferers.

Mum has said that my Dad, who has known her since she was 14, has never bothered by her vocal or motor tics and he has continued to be her rock throughout.  Mum has said as well as feeling continually exhausted from her tics, she very often felt like a freak.

On a completely positive note, despite her TS and total exhaustion from it, she got a degree in Japanese and worked as a language teacher, never taking time off sick for her condition. Oh and did I mention she brought up myself and my three siblings as well? Mum has found a medication (Risperidone) that suits her and know feels less drowsy and better than she has in ages.

As the disorder is believed to be hereditary, there is a strong possibility that my children could inherit it and could therefore benefit from the continued research and new treatments that will be available to them in years to come. I therefore want to raise money to help fund further research into the disorder. Living with someone with this kind of condition really makes you appreciate some of the daily struggles that people go through when suffering from disorders such as these, and makes you even more grateful for the small things in life.

Martin

My 14 year old son Luke has recently been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. I believed as I am sure many people who haven’t had firsthand experience of this disorder thought it was all about swearing when in fact Coprolalia the given name for the swearing aspect of Tourette Syndrome only affects 10% of TS cases. My son has verbal and motor tics which he struggles to control throughout the day and night. Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects the person with the condition much more than it affects those around them.

I am therefore running the London marathon to try and raise awareness of this very misunderstood condition.

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