Brighton Marathon Runners Take Flight

Share this story with your favourite social / bookmarking site.

Matthew Scott and Janet Scott

Fitness fanatics have been given another chance to grab a guaranteed place in the inaugural Brighton Marathon in April next year, and to raise vital finds for the Kent Air Ambulance. The announcement comes as organisers of the event confirm that all official places have now all been taken.

 

The HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) charity has secured 25 places for the 26.2 mile race on April 18^th 2010. The run which gets underway at 9am on the day will snake around Brighton city and along the coast – the route has been described as generally fast and reasonably flat.

 

The Air Ambulance is offering the places in exchange for their runners to raise vital funds for the charity to help keep the emergency service flying. One of those places has been taken by Janet Scott from Sittingbourne, who has personal reasons for running for the charity. Janet’s son Matthew was involved in an accident back in September and was airlifted by the charity.

 

Janet Scott, Brighton Marathon runner and Kent Air Ambulance fundraiser said: “My husband thinks I’m crazy and has offered me money not to run it, but I’m determined to cross the line, even if I’m walking across. This whole experience has been incredible and as a family we’re so very grateful for what the Kent Air Ambulance did for us that day – without them and their speedy delivery of Matthew to the Royal London Hospital he wouldn’t be here.”

 

Lynn Hyder, Kent County Fundraiser said: “We’re really pleased to be able to offer people in Kent one of the last opportunities to grab a place in what is certainly a prestigious event. To run in the first ever Brighton Marathon is certainly quite an opportunity, but to do it while raising funds for our life-saving charity in the process is certainly something to be proud of. We’re determined to make our runners who take up our place feel special. However if you’ve already got a place through the official procedure we’re also urging people to consider raising funds for us. What ever you can manage is always gratefully received – helping us today means we’re there if you need us tomorrow.”

 

Brighton Marathon Race Director Tim Hutchings said: “Now all of the official places have all gone, anyone trying to sign up will of course be disappointed, but there’s good news - anyone who has missed out entering this time can still get a place through one of the 130 charities holding guaranteed entries including Kent Air Ambulance. We also hope of course, that anyone who has not entered the race, but would still like to be a part of the event, will consider volunteering on 18th April 2010.”

 

JANET’S STORY

 

“I think I must have had one of those moments that I’m going to regret.” Janet Scott’s thoughts about her decision to run the Brighton Marathon next year, but putting her nervous laughter to one side, Janet does feel very determined to cross the line because she wants to give something back to the service that saved her son’s life.

 

17 year old Matthew had just bought himself a new motorbike and on the afternoon, around 3.30 on Friday September 4^th 2009, the A-level student decided to give his old Aprilia 125 one last spin before it was to be put up for sale and he set off from his parent’s Sittingbourne home.

 

Matthew had been involved in a collision just after 4pm with a car - he was thrown off his bike and collided with a fence. Matthew ended up with serious life threatening injuries including a double fracture in his jaw, fractured eye socket, cheekbone fracture, broken left wrist and a fractured sternum.

 

The Kent Air Ambulance HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) crew was called to the scene where they carried out road-side treatment, before airlifting Matthew to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. Two days later Matthew was having surgery to have his jaw reset.

 

Matthew said “I was filling up my motorbike with fuel, next thing I knew I was waking up in hospital with a gap in my teeth – I then went back to sleep.”

 

Matthew’s mum, Janet said “Matthew had surgery on the Sunday and it was amazing how his jaw just clicked into place. What was even more amazing was that 10 days after the accident Matthew was back attending school – albeit just one or two lessons to start.

 

Matthew is now in his second year of A-Levels studying IT, English Language and business at the Westlands School. He’s determined to get back on his motorbike “My friends think I’m crazy to get back on my motorbike, but I’m one of the most cautious riders and it just shows you it can happen to anyone”

 

“I’m really grateful to the Kent Air Ambulance for everything they did for me.”

 

Now Matthew’s mum, Janet and his brother, Andrew who is 23, are planning on running the inaugural Brighton Marathon in 2010 to raise funds for the Kent Air Ambulance next year.

 

Janet said “My husband thinks I’m crazy and has offered me money not to run it, but I’m determined to cross the line, even if I’m walking across. I’ve always wanted to do one since I watched the first London Marathon al those years ago, now Matthew’s accident has given me great reason.”

 

Janet has completed three sponsored walks in the past, but she s quick to point out “I’m not into exercise at all, I’m the first person to park my car as close to the shopping centre entrance, so this is a really big challenge for me.”

 

“This whole experience has been incredible and as a family we’re so very grateful for what the Kent Air Ambulance did for us that day – without them and their speedy delivery of Matthew to the Royal London Hospital he wouldn’t be here.”