Fighting diseases of poverty

An uphill struggle – running the Zermatt Marathon for LEPRA

Pensioner Nick is cheered on by train passengers as he runs uphill for Zermatt
Nick's time in the Zermatt Marathon is recorded

Pensioner Nick Martin, accompanied by his son Philip and daughter Ruth, completed  the Zermatt Marathon ‘the toughest marathon in Europe’ for LEPRA Health in Action.

Starting on a hot, still morning in a deep alpine valley in Switzerland, the course followed a railway track where the family was cheered on by train passengers and the sound of cowbells. The hardest point was running at high altitude, climbing 1,000ft over 2½ miles of forest track in 35°C heat. “I had to just keep plodding onwards and upwards, with the occasional helping push from my son or daughter on the steepest sections” Nick recalled. The family trio crossed the line hand-in-hand to qualify for their finishers’ medals.

“I ran for LEPRA because as a retired microbiologist I am all too well aware of the ravages the leprosy bacillus causes. I find it scandalous that poverty condemns so many to suffer from such a curable disease and I know that LEPRA is fighting to treat disease and help rectify this injustice.”

Would you like to run to fight leprosy and other diseases of poverty?

Are you fundraising for LEPRA or do you have any great training tips for our runners?  Find LEPRA Health in Action on Facebook, we would love to hear from you.

LEPRA Newsletter January 2013
Mathew (10)