North Devon couple running London Marathon in honour of their best friend

A North Devon couple are running this years London Marathon in aid of their friend who was involved in a freak accident in 2022.

Beth Coggin and Luke Adams will run all 26.2 miles to support charity, Spinal Research.

Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research around the world to develop effective treatments for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury. Every year 1,000 people in the UK and Ireland are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord.

It receives no government funding and relies entirely on the support of the public to raise funds for research. Because of the efforts of supporters, Spinal Research has funded innovative medical research that has achieved a number of ground breaking changes in the field.

Beth and Luke's cause is deeply personal, rooted in a commitment to not only raising funds for Spinal Research, but also to provide support for their best friend, Will.

April 2022, tragedy struck when Will, a well-known 24-year-old man from Braunton, was involved in a freak accident that left him with a neck break, severe spinal cord injury, and stroke. The incident sent shockwaves through the close-knit community, rallying support for Will's challenging journey to recovery.

In the aftermath of the accident, Will faced life-threatening complications, battling sepsis and meningitis. Medical interventions, including a tracheotomy and multiple spine surgeries, marked the early stages of his uphill struggle. Doctors delivered a grim prognosis, predicting permanent paralysis from the neck down and a life with minimal quality.

Months on a ventilator and in intensive care followed, during which Will grappled with the basic functions of daily life – speaking, eating, drinking and mobility all compromised.

Against the odds, Will began his journey towards recovery. In March 2023, he transitioned to a specialist rehab centre in Exeter, where he engaged in vital rehabilitation efforts. The progress has been commendable – from practicing standing with specialised equipment to participating in hydrotherapy and exploring the outdoors with friends in a wheelchair.

Beth and Luke said: "Will is really motivated to improve as much as he possibly can and we want to do everything we can to help make things a little lighter."

Now, they are channelling their energy into a mission to raise £3,600 for Spinal Research through their participation in the London Marathon. The couple hope to exceed this target, with additional funds earmarked for Will's recovery and homecoming.

They added: "We can't wait for Will to come home and be able to get stuck into returning to daily life, including regaining his independence, socialising with friends and gradually returning to adapted variations of sport."

The envisioned support includes continued specialist care, physiotherapy, adaptive exercise equipment, and potentially ground-breaking technology to aid Will in relearning to walk.

To further boost their fundraising efforts, Beth and Luke have organised a competition offering a two-night stay in their Summerhouse Airbnb in Combe Martin. The initiative aims not only to collect funds but to create a community-driven campaign to rally around Will's pursuit of a better quality of life.

The funds raised will play a pivotal role in helping Will regain independence in daily life, facilitating his return to adapted versions of sports he loves, such as biking, skiing, and surfing. 

Enter the competition:
https://buy.stripe.com/ cN2bJ92iS7Ic4WA000

Just Giving page: 
https://www.justgiving.com/team/lukeandbethmarathon2024