Glasgow graduate completes London Marathon Tribute

Paul Anderson describes running the marathon in honour of his close friend and Glasgow student, Kate Richer, a victim of new variant CJD.

After leaving Glasgow University to study at Imperial College London, it has always been an ambition of mine to run the London Marathon, and after 5 years I thought it was about time I gave it a go

However, this year was different from the others. Before I would have been driven purely by the challenge of finishing the race. Now I had the extra motivation of running for the Human BSE foundation.

In February 2001 a matter of days after her 22nd birthday, I lost one of my closest friends, Kate Richer, to variant CJD: the human form of BSE. Kate began a course in Music at Glasgow in Autumn 1999, but had to return home to the Isle of Wight after the first year when her condition became worse. I wrote letters to her from when she was diagnosed as a potential sufferer in summer 2000 and visited her when I could; but that was easy.

I was in London and far away from seeing the rapid deterioration, the daytime hallucinations, the night terrors and the eventual inability to walk, talk or eat. vCJD is certainly not something anyone can tackle alone and a network of carers and support is crucial to enable the sufferers, their relatives and friends to find out the facts and to attempt to deal with the situation ahead.

The actual race went well and fortunately some old injuries failed to materialise! I finished in 3hours 19 minutes without stopping - something I promised myself I wouldn't do as Kate didn't have the option of turning off the pain she went through. With the help of friends from home, the final total should be around £500 pounds, which should make a real difference to the charity and the people it cares for. I would like to thank everyone who sponsored and supported me and I hope that by doing the run, I have raised people's awareness of this terrible disease."

Anyone wishing to give a donation (it's not too late!) should e-mail Paul at paul@ando15.fsnet.co.uk
or call the Human BSE Foundation directly on 0191 389 4157.