Dan Wilson runs 26th marathon of 2007 to raise cash for Parkinson’s Disease research

Dec 30 2007

by Caroline Smith, Sunday Sun
http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/s...name_page.html

WHILE many of us are sleeping off the excesses of the season today, determined Dan Wilson is embarking on the last leg of his epic charity challenge.

The 25-year-old will be putting his best foot forward in his final marathon of the year.

At the start of 2007, he set himself the incredible goal of completing 26 marathons — one for each letter of the alphabet — in every corner of the globe.

And after clocking up 655 miles at extreme temperatures and on unforgiving terrain, weary Dan is today donning his tracksuit and trainers one last time. Dan, from Hexham, Northumberland, but now living in Exmouth, Devon, said: “I had to fudge this one a bit because it is meant to be the letter X, but I am running a route from Exeter to Exminster to Exmouth.


“My mum is doing the last 10 miles with me and my brother-in-law is running one half of it.

“He used to be a marine so I am going to have my work cut out keeping up with him. But if I start lagging behind I suppose I have got the excuse that I have already got more than 600 miles behind me this year!”

The inspiration for Dan’s marathon mission came after his dad Richard was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, making him determined to raise cash for research into the illness.

He said: “My dad is really proud of me. I think when I first announced I was going to do it at the beginning of the year everyone thought I was a nutter.

“After I had run the first three marathons I did wonder what on earth I had got into and how I was going to do another 20-odd.

“My lowest point was when I did the Krakow marathon and my knee just went. But I soldiered on and I do feel a massive sense of achievement.”

Dan has already raised more than £11,000 for the Parkinson’s Disease Society, but hopes to double that with more runs in 2008.

It’s not too late to sponsor Dan. For more details go to www.therunningdan.com