Survivor Tim strides out with Richard Branson
21.04.10
MENINGITIS survivor Tim Bradbury will be running alongside Richard Branson in this Sunday's London Marathon.
Tim, 40, was one of 100 lucky Virgin customers to get a place in the Virgin 100 Team and will be joined by a host of celebrities for the 26.2 mile challenge in the capital.
Postman Tim, from Rowbotham Street, is using the unique opportunity to raise money for Meningitis UK - a cause close to his heart after he was struck down by the viral form of the disease five years ago.
He said: "As Virgin is sponsoring the marathon for the first time this year, it offered customers the chance to apply for a place in their own team led by Richard Branson himself.
"I had applied through the main ballot four years running and had been unsuccessful, but this year I missed the deadline so threw caution to the wind and applied through Virgin.
"I didn't think I stood a chance so when I found out I'd been successful in November I was over the moon."
Training's been a mission in itself for Tim as his wife Sue gave birth to daughter Erin at the beginning of April.
Tim added: "It hasn't been easy finding the time to train but I think I'm on track. It's going to be a rather exciting day, especially as I start off from the Green Area with all the celebrities."
Tim's previously run the Edinburgh Marathon and the Great Manchester Run for Meningitis UK after his own experience of the disease at the age of 35.
He had been working 14 hours shifts before getting severe headaches one Friday night.
Tim explained: "By around 10pm my vision started to go and everything was very dark with flashing lights. Then I started to feel really disorientated so went to bed thinking I was just tired.
"At about 1am I woke up and said to my wife that I needed to go to hospital. They saw me straight away and I was in the emergency ward for four or five days.
"The most memorable and painful thing was having a lumber puncture which involved a needle in my spinal column.
"Thankfully that came back to say I didn't have bacterial meningitis but the less serious viral form. I was lucky to make a good recovery and was out of hospital in 12 days.
"It's really stayed with me and I've since learnt about its devastating consequences and how it can impact upon people's lives."
Money raised from his marathon efforts will go towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign. It aims to raise £7million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against all forms of meningitis.
Steve Dayman, who founded Meningitis UK after his son Spencer died from the disease, said: "Tim's running and fundraising efforts are really remarkable. We're very thankful to him and wish him the best of luck for what should be a really exciting day in the capital.
"Thankfully he made a full recovery from viral meningitis. There's still no vaccine for the Meningitis B bacterial strain of meningitis and sadly six families a week lose a loved one to the disease, which is why we're committed to vaccine research which will save thousands of lives in the future."
To sponsor Tim in the Virgin London Marathon, please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/timbradbury
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
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