Brighton Marathon 2014

May 16, 2014

Trustee and co-founder of Facial Palsy UK, Vanessa Venables, shares her experience of the Brighton Marathon.

As Facial Palsy UK enters the second year of its life, we managed to enrol 11 runners for the Brighton Marathon, held on Sunday 8th April. Most of our runners were friends and family of people living with facial palsy so the cause was very close to their hearts. We also had runners who have facial palsy who have given Facial Palsy UK their tireless support.

Three of the trustees including our Chief Executive, Mr Charles Nduka, chanted vociferously at mile 14 and 18 to cheer our runners on. It was a great position with lots of music pounding out to keep up the pace and charge the already thrumming atmosphere.

This was my first experience of attending such an event and I have learnt a great deal to prepare ourselves for next year’s run. I was astounded at the effect the whole atmosphere had on me and went slightly wild. I am not sure my screams of support were helpful or just alarming! I am afraid that people who knew me were somewhat shocked at the enormous amount of noise I made! I couldn’t help it – it was overwhelming.

What a day though with 15 thousand runners starting off at 9:15 representing charities large and small. The supporters too were there in their thousands creating an amazing buzz of excitement. Facial Palsy UK runners did us proud most of them breezing past us at the 14 mile point, as if they’d just walked round the corner! What athletes!

I was overwhelmed by the effort involved on everyone’s part. It was very moving to watch all these great causes getting such wonderful support. There were costumes; jokes; banter not to mention jelly babies. I was very impressed by one runner who was juggling throughout! There were also runners pushing children with disabilities along in buggies for the duration of the marathon – what more can I say.

It was a day when everyone pulled together. Supporters cheered for everyone! Kirsty, one of our runners, (a physiotherapist from Queen Victoria Hospital), found the last five miles the greatest challenge. She asked another runner to run with her so they could support each other through the last gruelling miles. In turn they both wanted to stop but each encouraged the other to carry on to the finish line. It was the spirit of this event as much as the event itself that was so heartening.

All our runners were amazing. I was only sorry that we couldn’t hug and squeeze them all with our gratitude and pride as they went over the finish line. The last half mile was jam packed with supporters and it was hard to find each other let alone isolate any of our runners. The large screens on the beach were a great idea and next year we will be there waiting for them with our many, many thanks.

Vanessa Venables, Trustee and co-founder of Facial Palsy UK

We have places in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run in October and will also be purchasing places for next year’s Brighton marathon, for more information please see our website.