It was the 2002 marathon and the year of Paula Radcliffe and Jane Tomlinson, and at the time lesser know me and a chap called Ben Walsgrove. I was not having a particular marathon day, and was out to finish regardless of time. It was in the closing mile entering Birdcage walk that a new chapter in my life would begin. Jogging and walking just to keep the momentum going, even with the massive crowds cheering you on was a struggle. I passed two guys struggling, one holding the other up. In the back of my mind something said go and help. The whole race was rushing by as everyone was aiming for home and the finish line in sight. But here I was in a unselfish situation aiding a fellow runner.

Ben was his name, and sported a pained expression. By the way he was standing on one leg it looked as if he had twisted his ankle. There was one thing on Ben’s mind and that was to finish, no matter what the pain. The only why he was going to collect his charity money was by crossing that finish line. I had never meet anyone with such determination, even in such great pain. So we supported him on our tired shoulders and slowly edged our way down Birdcage walk, 50 yards at a time. Then we would pause and off we would go again. St Johns and first aider’s, tried to come to Ben’s aid, but he was having non of it, he was going to finish and that determination and guts were contagious, because Pete the other guy and me were going to get Ben across the finish line whatever it took.

Runners urged us on, patted our backs as they sped past and applauded our effort. The spectators began to tae notice and cheered Ben and my names as they we on our vests. The roars and encouragement became louder as we approached Buckingham Place and the final turn to the finish. A few more last efforts and we were metres before the line. I noticed from the corner the we were on the big TV screen. Course officials came to greet us and I remonstrated with one who said “We’ll take him from here..!” There was now way. We had carried Ben the best part of a mile, we were going to finish together, and the finish line photo shows our three feet on the line.

Paramedics quickly took Ben away, and we thought that would be the last we would see of him. Pete disappeared into the crowd. It wasn’t until back in my hotel room that what I did that day would begin to hit home. Lying on my hotel bed watching the highlights the whole scenario was re-enacted. As Paul Dickinson commented on our camaraderie, “This proves the point you don’t have to be mad to run a marathon...but it helps..!!”

You would think the story finishes here. But not. Tuesday morning at work, I get a phone call. It was Ben. I ask how he was and stunned at his reply. He was calling from his hospital bed after a operation. He had undergone surgery to pin his Fema back together again. Ben had actually had a stress fracture in the bone that joins his leg to his hip and that had snapped in the later stages of the marathon. His story was in the national press and the news. We had carried him unbeknown with this injury to the finish of the marathon. I can’t describe how I felt, and still can’t today. That has to be the proudest moment of my life. Ben was running for Whizz kidz and raised £15,000 to aid mobility aids for kids. If we hadn’t of helped Ben that day he would not of collected that money.

What was a turning point in my life, was being invited to the Whizz Kidz marathon thank you party. It would be a chance to be reunited with Ben. I also learnt about the work of Whizz kidz and I am now a volunteer for them, and for the third, helping encourage and motivate their marathon team, helping other to achieve their marathon goal. But always in the back of my mind is that day and Ben’s determination to achieve his goal.

Nigel Lloyd