IN 2016 Helen McCann was challenged to run the Bath Half Marathon and the London Marathon 2017. Nothing unusual about that, except Helen was 59 years old, a non-runner and registered blind with a Guide Dog.
“Always a sucker for a challenge, I decided to tackle both events with a guide runner,” said Helen. “Then I asked myself many times over the seven months of training why I was doing this when the most strenuous thing I had ever run was a bath.”
And Helen had always hated running.
The two main reasons Helen decided to run these events were to raise funds for the charity Guide Dogs and as a personal challenge.
“I knew this opportunity might not come my way again and I didn’t want to live with regrets,” said Helen.
The target sum for having a place in the London Marathon was £2,000 and Helen, who lives in Wookey, raised £7,500.
Many people suggested Helen should write a book about her marathon journey and how she had overcome disabilities to live a full and active life.
To read Helen’s story, copies can be pre-ordered now. It is only currently available through Helen.
The book will be published towards the end of May and copies will be dispatched on publication. It is available as a standard copy at £9.99 and a large print edition (font size 16) at £14.99.
To guarantee a first edition signed copy, email Helen at Runningblindhelenmccann@gmail.com saying how many copies you would like to order and in which format. Helen will respond explaining how to secure your order.
Helen can also be booked to give talks to any group, whether adults or children. Email her for details.