LONDON MARATHON: Trailblazer's finish (From The Oxford Times)
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LONDON MARATHON: Trailblazer's finish
12:00pm Tuesday 24th April 2012 in News
Dave Bracher
Dad-of-two Dave Bracher from Didcot was one of five people to take part in the marathon in ordinary wheelchairs, rather than three-wheeled, specially adapted racing chairs.
Mr Bracher was taken to hospital in 2008 and ended up in a coma for 12 days, waking up to find he was suffering so-called locked-in syndrome.
He is now paralysed from the waist down and since 2010 has been in talks with the organisers of the London Marathon to allow wheelchair users to take part, without being registered as elite athletes in specialist racing chairs.
On Sunday, as part of a test-run team, he finished the course in five hours 40 minutes for the Spinal Injuries Association.
He said: “It’s difficult to push a wheelchair when you’ve got a lump in your throat because the crowd are cheering.
“Taking part in a big event makes you realise how incredible the Olympics are going to be.”
He will now write a report for organisers about his experiences.
