Mo vs Martin, 2019 London Marathon.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please can I have a couple of minutes of your time.

I am aiming to win the 2019 London Marathon, and if all goes to plan, I will be giving Mo Farah a lesson in distance running at the same time.....

In order to do this, I am asking for your support, and maybe donate a few quid to two causes that I owe my life too. The Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity and Transplant Australia.

Those of you that know me will be fully aware that I am a very private person, so revealing anything has taken a lot of thought and deliberation. Without wanting to bore anyone, I was born with a medical condition I have battled with all my life, especially the last 20 years. I won’t go into it, as believe me, the whole thing bores me even more.

Below I have given a quick and very brief timeline of myself and Mo, so you can see the match up, and to give you a better idea of what has gone down, and why I am running for the two charities mentioned above.…. Think you will all agree that Sir Mo has got Bob Hope and no hope….

Head to Head - Mo vs Martin

·         Sir Mohamed "Mo" Muktar Jama Farah, CBE, OLY (born 23 March 1983)

·         Martin Nicholas Bruce (born 25th September 1974)

2009

·         Mo - March 2009 took gold in the 3000 m at the European Indoor Championships

·         Martin - August 2009 told he should seriously consider a double lung transplant. (Ignored the consultant, ‘I don’t think so pal, chill out, I am                  alright at the moment').

2012

·         Mo - At the London 2012 Olympics, Farah won the 10,000 and 5,000m gold

·         Martin – Told he has approx. 2 years to live on current lung function

2016

·         Mo - Farah won gold medals in the 10,000 and 5,000 metres at the Rio Olympics.

·         Martin – Overnight on June 16/17th 2016 has Double Lung Transplant at Harefield Hospital.

2019

Sir Mo and Martin enter the 2019 London Marathon.

PB for Marathon:

Mo – 2 hours 5 mins 11 secs.

Martin – F**K knows. As long as I avoid the St Johns Ambulance tent, and complete the course before they pack up the finish line, happy days!

I need to mention my inspiration and driving force, in more ways than one. My hero, (and I don’t do hero’s, apart from maybe Eddie Vedder). My lung donor, and best friend, Mr Gavin Roberts.

With Gavin’s thought and pure selflessness, and by putting himself on the transplant list in Australia, I get another chance at life. The biggest regret I will always have is that Gavin’s life was cut massively short, and I will never get the chance to meet him.

I went to Australia in April 2018 and had the honour of meeting some of his amazing family and friends. (See below link).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5607597/Organ-recipient-flies-world-donors-30th-birthday.html 

In May 2018 I also met Gavin’s father, when he came to my house in England for dinner.
Without their agreement at the time, there would have been no transplant, due to the crazy rules in the England. I can’t put into words the respect I have for all of them, having to make a decision like that, in a situation that most of us can’t even comprehend. Legends, I love all of them. 



Even if you don’t fancy donating any money, no problem, but please consider putting yourself on the transplant list, and most importantly if you do so, inform your next of kin of your wishes. See link below if you want to register as a donor.

For the UK
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/

For Australia
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/australian-organ-donor-register#a6

And never ever give up…ever.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Right Mo you clown, Gav and I are ready, let’s get it on!