Former drug and alcohol abuse sufferer runs back to back marathons for Rainbow Ward

Avid runner Gary Lockwood has helped to turn his life around by pounding the streets after years fighting drug and alcohol abuse.

And now he has completed back to back marathon distances round parts of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire from his home in Burwell raising money for the childrens’ ward at the West Suffolk Hospital where his son Bobby was cared for.

The 48-year-old self employed tiler took almost nine hours running a circular course through the towns and villages of Fordham, Isleham, Freckenham, Red Lodge, Kentford, Gazeley, Dalham, Ashley, Cheveley, Newmarket, Upware and Soham for the 52.4 miles and has now ended up with a total of £1,516.74 after setting an initial target of £1,000.

The money has gone to the My WiSH Charity, which supports the work of the hospital in Bury St Edmunds, with it being directed towards the Rainbow Ward and used by its health play specialist Laura Nudds to buy toys and equipment to help with her role of preparing children for procedures and reducing their anxieties through play.

His challenge came after Bobby needed urgent treatment when he was just five weeks old after a bleed from his nose wouldn’t stop.

Gary, who has faced a lifetime of drug and alcohol abuse since the age of 11, said he was out in the car with his son and partner Tina Basing back in May going to a local fair when Bobby stopped breathing and suffered the long term nose bleed. The youngster, who was just five-weeks-old at the time, went into shock prompting his parents to call the paramedics who took him to hospital where he was admitted to the Rainbow Ward for a couple of nights.

“But he’s as healthy as you like now,” said Gary. “Although it was a bit of a worrying time for me and Tina.”

He said staff on the ward were so amazing he wanted to give something back and what Gary and his 35-year-old partner said was that the staff also cared for them as well as Bobby ensuring they ate, drank and slept which was “just wonderful”.

The run, which took place on August 21, was supported by Gary’s friend Michael Hales, who lives in Fordham, and who cycled alongside and even had to bike on one wheel for 12 miles after he suffered a puncture.

Gary, who talked frankly about his life problems, said: “I only started running in April and it got my mind away from the abuse I had been suffering. When I was young I started sniffing glue and petrol and other substances then went onto drugs and into rehab. I was going through a lot of stuff and it was quite difficult for me.”
But he said how running had helped him to turn his life around as he can plough his energy into pounding the streets.

“I suffer from social anxiety now and I’m not really a people person so queueing up for a run with other people is not for me but I just like to get out and run and run which I get a buzz from.

“I’m really pleased to have raised the money and to have helped the hospital out and if my running gives a bit of hope to other people with drug and alcohol addiction then that’s a bit of an achievement as well,” he added.

Sally Daniels, fundraising manager, said “It’s been a pleasure supporting Gary over the past few months as he trained for his back to back marathons. His drive and determination is just incredible. Even when he caught Covid it didn’t take him long to get back out training despite the breathing difficulties he was suffering. The money he has raised is just fantastic and will help Laura in her new role on the Rainbow ward, helping her to help other young patients who find themselves in hospital which, in turn, also helps alleviate the worry for the parents so we are truly grateful”.

Written by Russell Cook for My WiSH Charity