Running buddy sought for disabled Hereford woman who completed first marathon this year

Helen Williams, 43, from Hereford has been running since she was a child, having been introduced to the sport by her mother as an extension of physiotherapy.

Miss Williams, who has Cerebral Palsy and a learning disability, started her running career as a sprinter and later turned to distance running.

But her mother, Lynn Williams, says her daughter needs a running buddy to train with so that she doesn't have to stick to industrial estates with her mother following in the car.

Lynn said: "Athletics clubs here are mostly road-running and she needs somebody who is responsible for her and to make sure she is safe, like a running buddy.

"We are looking at somebody for up to 12 hours a week but it could be two different people.

"I think it would mean a lot to her. If she is going out road running we have to go somewhere where it's fairly safe and I have to follow her in the car which isn't ideal."

Helen, who has a voluntary job in a cafe in Hereford, entered the ballot for the London Marathon three years running and got a place on the third attempt. She had previously run the Great North Run and several half marathons but this was the first time she had taken on the full stint.

She received a place for a guide runner and was joined by Gary Bodman, who she had run with previously when she lived in South Wales.

"She was very excited when she knew she had got a place," said Lynn.

"You have to work hard as a person with a disability and, particularly with cerebral palsy, it's about getting the warm-ups right so that the muscles are warmed up in order to run.

"I think the thing about running is that it's something she can do with anybody. She doesn't just have to do it with people with disabilities. She just really enjoys it. It's very beneficial for her I think and for her confidence as well. It's a way of meeting people as well."

Anyone that would like to run with Helen can call Lynn on 07711442501.