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Marine physio Jules training for Gumption challenge
Jules Payne preparing for her role as a physiotherapist for the Gumpathon. (METP-20-07-10GM050) Picture: GEORGI MABEE
INSPIRED by her Royal Marine son and other soldiers serving in Afghanistan, a physiotherapist is about to undertake one of her most gruelling challenges.
Jules Payne (48), of Cardyke Drive, Baston, near Peterborough, will fly out to America in September to provide physio support on the road for five servicemen who plan to run the Gumpathon across America in 60 days.
The four British servicemen and a US marine will run the 3,530 miles from New York on the east coast to Santa Monica in California in relays to raise cash for Help For Heroes, The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund and US Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
The mother-of-three’s task will be to keep them running despite the pain and injuries they could pick up on the way.
Jules, who qualified as a holistic physiotherapist in May 2009, said her inspiration to take part was her son, Royal Marine Tom Ellis (21), who has served in Afghanistan and just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.
She said: “I am absolutely inspired by him. My heart is in it with him. I just hope and pray that we never have to use any of the money I’ve helped to raise for charity for him.”
When her son is serving abroad in war zones, she says she feels helpless and the best thing she can do is help to raise money for charity.
She added: “It is like you’re holding your breath all of the time. You feel like your life is not moving forward. The best thing you can do is to raise money for people who are forgotten, those who return injured.”
The volunteer physio for Deepings Rugby Club’s men’s first team got involved with the Gumpathon after making friends with Mark Ormrod, the first triple amputee from Afghanistan, who has recently published a book about his experiences and will be running a mile a day alongside the team, despite his injuries.
Jules added: “I have read Mark’s book and it was just like sitting and listening to my son. The experiences they have had are very, very similar.”
They will be camping in military tents and vehicles for more than two months, but Jules believes the Gumpathon will challenge her physical fitness the most.
She said: “I know that I am capable of working really long hours because when I was taking part in the Pedal For Paris for the Royal British Legion, I was up at 5am and finished by 9pm, and I was shattered after six days.
“I will be working for 60 consecutive days, so I think it is going to be a physical challenge for me.
“But my challenge is minute compared to theirs.”
The team start the challenge on September 10 and are entering their final preparations.
n To sponsor the team and for more information about the challenge, visit www.gumpathon.com
The gruelling challenge that is the Gumpathon
EACH of the five runners will cover 16 to 22 miles per day in a relay formation.
Every runner will complete the equivalent of 34 marathons over the course of about 60 days.
The Gumpathon is inspired by Forrest Gump’s epic run across America, and is the brainchild of Colour Sergeant Damian Todd, who decided to go ahead with the idea after a close friend was left severely disabled following a tour in Afghanistan.
It is being done to raise money and the profile of servicemen and women who are returning home injured from war zones.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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