On 8 December, friends and former colleagues Marcus Green and Phil Rossall aim to break the Guinness world record for the full marathon wheelchair push at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Phil was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2016 and wasn’t expected to live beyond two years. He is now unable to move his limbs or breathe for himself, but he is determined to raise awareness and funds for people living with MND. A fan of motor racing and all things car related, Phil is delighted to have the once in lifetime opportunity to go around Goodwood.
Earlier this year, the duo broke the world record for the half marathon wheelchair push, completing an event in Worthing in one hour, 29 minutes and 38 seconds – six minutes faster than the previous record.
Although Marcus is a very fast marathon runner, 9 miles an hour is a huge ask for a sole runner pushing a wheelchair, a ventilator and a deadweight of 11 stone.
Winchester based, Marcus Green commented; “Setting the world record for the half marathon push in Worthing was a wonderful accomplishment earlier in the year and meant a huge amount to Phil.
“Training has been intense since as this is another step up. Anything near the record time for the full 26.2 miles would be fantastic, while a break through the 3-hour barrier would be a major achievement, I am confident we can do this with a little bit more training.”
The current record is three hours and one minute, and is held by the same Canadian sportsman who held the record for the half marathon wheelchair push.
The 33-year-old continued; "I think the Canadian guy is probably very frustrated with us now. But of course, records are there to be broken and raising awareness in the process is very important.
"There's just a few bits and pieces left to do, such as make sure the wheelchair is legal.”
Chris James, Director of External Affairs at the Motor Neurone Disease Association commented; “As a keen runner myself I know just how hard this challenge is going to be and wish them both all the very best for their World Record attempt. Today in the UK, six people will hear the devastating news that they have motor neurone disease (MND). In that instant, their world – and the world of their loved ones - is shattered.
“Without the incredible support like this from Phil and Marcus the MND Association simply would not be able to fund research to find a cure, campaign and raise awareness of MND and provide its vital support services to those living with and affected by the disease.”
Since his diagnosis, Phil has raised more than £28,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. He hopes the full marathon attempt in December will help raise further awareness, and he also looks to write a book to support others affected by the disease. You can read more about Phil’s story on his blog.
[ENDS]
For press information, please contact;
Lucy Snell, Sport PR
E: lucy.snell@goodwood.com
T: 01243 755 000
M: 07951 086276
Phil Rossall’s Fightback Fund
If you would like to make a donation, please send it to:
Motor Neurone Disease Association
PO Box 246
Northampton
NN1 2PR
https://www.mndassociation.org/get-involved/fundraising/donate-to-a-fund/
and ask for it to be allocated to Phil Rossall’s Fightback Fund.
About
About The Motor Neurone Disease Association
The MND Association was founded in 1979 by a group of volunteers with experience of living with or caring for someone with MND, and are the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on MND care, research and campaigning.
- MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
- It attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work. MND does not usually affect the senses such as sight, sound, feeling etc.
- It can leave people locked in a failing body, unable to move, talk and eventually breathe.
- Over 80% of people with MND will have communication difficulties, including for some, a complete loss of voice.
- It affects people from all communities.
- Around 35% of people with MND experience mild cognitive change, in other words, changes in thinking and behaviour. A further 15% of people show signs of frontotemporal dementia which results in more pronounced behavioural change.
- It kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis.
- A person’s lifetime risk of developing MND is around 1 in 300.
- Six people per day are diagnosed with MND in the UK.
- It affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time.
- It kills six people per day in the UK, this is just under 2,200 per year
- It has no cure.
&width=271)