Wiltshire man to run equivalent of seven marathons along Thames Path challenge after mum’s motor neuron disease diagnosis
A WILTSHIRE man is preparing to run the entire 184-mile Thames Path in under 40 hours after his mum Elisa was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND).
Tom ‘Tiger’ Spearman, 31, from Ford, near Chippenham, will attempt the equivalent of more than seven marathons back-to-back in October to raise £50,000 for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
More than £35,000 has already been donated ahead of the challenge, which will take him through Oxford, Reading, Henley, Windsor, Richmond, and London.
Tom decided to take on the run after seeing the effect of MND on his mum and the rest of his family following her diagnosis last year.
He said: “MND is a desperately cruel disease. Like many families, we knew very little about it until Mum was diagnosed and suddenly it became part of everyday life.
“Watching someone you love go through that is incredibly difficult. You feel helpless at times, but fundraising gives you something positive to focus on and a way of contributing to the search for better treatments.”
MND is a life-shortening condition affecting the nerves that carry messages from the brain to muscles around the body. It progressively affects people’s ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe, and there is currently no cure.
Tom hopes his challenge will raise awareness of the disease as well as supporting research into effective treatments.
The route has particular significance because of his longstanding connection with rivers. While studying at the University of Oxford, he regularly swam in the Thames, and earlier this year completed a 20-mile pilgrimage along the River Avon during the summer solstice.
He said: “Rivers have always been places where I’ve found perspective. Whether swimming, walking or simply taking time to think, they’ve played an important role in my life.
“When I started thinking about doing something meaningful for MND research, following the Thames felt right. It is a huge challenge, but it also feels deeply personal.”
Tom, who combines his work on a local farm with volunteering, community activities and serving as a parish councillor, will be supported by family and friends joining him for sections of the route.
He hopes the scale of the challenge will encourage others to donate and show their support for families affected by MND.
Paul Thompson, Director of Fundraising and Engagement at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “What Tom is taking on is extraordinary. Running 184 miles is an incredible physical challenge, but what stands out most is the reason behind it.
“Like so many supporters of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Tom is turning a deeply difficult experience into something positive and impactful.
“Every pound raised will help accelerate research into effective treatments for MND, bringing us closer to changing what a diagnosis means for families in the future.”
My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was established in 2017 by the late Scotland and British & Irish Lions rugby international Doddie Weir following his own MND diagnosis.
It has since committed more than £24 million to research seeking effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for the disease.
Tom’s run follows other recent MND fundraising efforts in Wiltshire, including a 24-hour challenge at Hartley Farm inspired by former England rugby captain Lewis Moody’s diagnosis.
