As you may have read, my friend Dave Johnson, aka Alf Tupper, is intending to run the London Marathon in aid of two very deserving charities, and ones I have a personal interest in, MIND, and Weston Hospicecare. Alf has recently had trouble with his knee, and was very concerned that he might not be able to run. However, as you will read below, he has been given the all-clear to compete and despite the undoubted pain and discomfort he will experience, is going to run. Good luck Alf! Good luck Dave!
Friday April 12th 14:55
The following statement has been released to the world’s media:-“It is with surprise and cautious optimism that I am able to announce that, following a medical assessment earlier today on my injured knee, I have been given the green light to attempt my third London Marathon on April 21st. The official diagnosis is patello-femoral syndrome, or “runner’s knee” which, although painful and debilitating, rarely requires surgery. I have been advised that running the marathon is unlikely to cause additional long-term damage but may well be a painful experience, particularly in the latter stages. Future physiotherapy sessions will follow and I have already arranged an appointment with a sports injury specialist next week to try to get the knee in the best possible condition for the immediate challenge ahead. Following the marathon, it will be a long break from running whilst I concentrate on making a full recovery.”“Thank you to all my friends, family and colleagues who have offered sympathetic words when it looked like I might be forced to postpone the race for 12 months. I have still got a couple of training sessions to complete and things could still go wrong but I am much more optimistic now than I was before the assessment.”“So, please keep that sponsorship money rolling in and look out for Alf Tupper, the Tough of the Track, on Sunday 21st April. He’ll be the one limping and grimacing but, hopefully, smiling at the finish.”
Lois Elsden 