Blind man to take on run - with guidance from above

Judith and David Adams with David's guide dog Zoey.

Now, when Mr Adams and his wife Judith take part in the Plymouth Half Marathon next month the couple – both well into their retirement years – will have “spiritual guidance” from their son who inspired many people before he died aged 47 of motor neurone disease 18 months ago.

The Priors Marston pair each face personal challenges – Mr Adams is registered blind and is seeking another runner to help him through the half marathon, while Mrs Adams has never taken part in a long-distance race before. But they are both motivated to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a charity for which son Simon raised £330,000 towards a £1 million fundraising goal in his final years.

Mr Adams said: “We’re getting up to the £400,000 mark and we’re trying to get that milestone chalked off.

“A lot of Simon’s friends have done the half marathon in the last few years and we thought that if we took part we might get more sponsorship because of our advanced ages.

“Simon guided me in London and now he’ll be giving us spiritual guidance because we think he’s right here with us.”

Simon, a Warwick School old boy and former member of Southam Rugby Club who worked as a teacher in Plymouth, was posthumously named Justgiving.com’s Fundraiser of the Year in 2012.

His fundraising campaign started soon after he was diagnosed with the incurable disease and in the final years of his life he set about ticking off various tasks and adventures on a ‘bucket list’.

This included skiing in France, swimming with sharks in South Africa and trekking around Uluru in Australia.

Simon’s fundraising goal was at the top of the list and at his funeral in 2011 his friends in both Warwickshire and Plymouth vowed to reach the target.

Over the past three years more than 1,500 people and thousands of schoolchildren have run the half marathon in his memory, rugby teammates have cycled between Warwickshire and Devon and friends have planted Simon’s banner on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mr Adams said: “It’s amazing, Simon has been gone now for 18 months yet the enthusiasm is still there. People he went to school with and who he played Rugby with have been very supportive.

“His wife Maxine has come back to live up here and she will be taking part in the run as well so Warwickshire will be very well represented.”

If you could guide Mr Adams on the run call 01327 262626.