Jack Hewitt, our Eight for A Mate! marathon runner, has had to drop out of his next marathon in the capital city of Australia next month because of injury.
He’s torn a tendon in his foot which has needed physio and appointments with a podiatrist who has put insets into one of his trainers to take the pressure off the injured area.
Jack, now living in Australia, had planned to run the Canberra Marathon on 13th April. Instead, to allow time for healing, he’s rearranged his running schedule so his next marathon won’t be until the Adelaide Marathon in South Australia on 4th May.
Then, if all goes well, he will run the remaining six marathons later this year – winding up with a new date for Canberra, the Stromlo Marathon, on 15th November.
His intention all along has been to raise awareness of ME/CFS while completing marathons during the year in every one of Australia's states, territory and federal capital.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a few weeks, thinking I would need surgery and I’d be out for six months, then thinking I was out for three but, in the end, things are looking up”, Jack has told followers on his Instagram account @jackhewitt__
Meanwhile, says Jack, “As you can see, I am taking the recovery from my torn tendon extremely seriously. It is tough. Tough times never last, only tough people last, and thankfully I am going to be running again very shortly. So long as I don’t have any pain in my ankle, I can follow a return to running programme which my podiatrist has permitted me to significantly accelerate given the circumstances.
“The next marathon I am aiming to run is in Adelaide on 4th May. That is only six weeks after I start running again. It’s going to be interesting.”
The photos show Jack taking part in the Cadbury Marathon in Hobart, Tasmania, on 11th January.
Jack and his girfriend Tate moved to Australia from England last year, determined to enjoy the laid-back Australian vibe.
He launched his ‘Eight for Mate’ challenge after being shocked by the condition in which he found his friend Freddie on a visit back to England last year.
Freddie is being nursed at home, while suffering from very severe ME. Both men became great mates after meeting at Lady Margaret College, Cambridge, while studying for their degrees.
Jack – who completed his first marathon of the eight in Tasmania in January – has already raised well over £11,000 for the ME Association. If you would like to contribute to his fundraiser, please visit:
Jack Hewitt – Eight for a Mate: The ME/CFS Marathons Challenge
Fundraising for ME Association
He’s also raising money for ME/CFS Australia at https://www.justgiving.com/page/mecfsmarathonsaus
Jack gives that foot a rest at Bondi Beach, Sydney, a short distance from his home.
Tony Britton
Senior Fundraising Volunteer, The ME Association
tony.britton@meassociation.org.uk Mob: 07393 805566
