Page posted March 27th and revised April 9th 1999
Background:
"Two years ago I was operated on for bowel cancer and it was discovered that I had liver cancer. A mix of western medicine (chemotherapy treatment) and alternative remedies has been very important in enabling me to live in my normal way. The view you take of your illness is also a major factor in remaining extremely positive and I haven't seen cancer as a burden on me.
Many people have been very supportive of me and some of these I hope to repay from sponsorship for running the London Marathon on 18th April, 1999. Two groups which come into this category are the Frank Ellis Unit in Churchill Hospital, Oxford, and Optimum Health in Nottingham, and I intend to share sponsorship between these.
I have spent quite a few days in the Frank Ellis Unit and the doctors, nurses and staff have to put up with a lot; they are amazingly patient. A donation to them would help provide much-needed equipment and comfort for the patients. Jackie Hodges at Optimum Health has been great at diagnosing and providing me with supplements that complement the hospital treatment. In fact one of these remedies, shark's cartilage, is being trialled successfully in the USA for cancer treatment.
My training programme for the marathon has been based on that of one of the outstanding athletic coaches, and a good friend: Arthur Lydiard (aged 83 and still a fitness freak.) My preparation has been pretty good but has been interrupted by the regular treatment I have received along with coaching and rainy days. I manage about 50 miles per week and this reduces down to 30 when undergoing treatment. I don't think Arthur would see me as ideally trained for the event.....
Update: Harry completed the marathon in around four hours and ten minutes (time to be confirmed): disappointing in some ways since he was hoping to be quicker, but understandable since he had been stricken by a minor virus in the week before the race, and wasn't sure he could do it. He did one hour 41 minutes to half-way but didn't quite have enough stamina to continue the pace. He's intending to run it again next year.....