Plucky Sharon Mynard, who has been paralysed since the age of 16 when she broke her neck in a riding accident, is taking on a wheelchair marathon this weekend.
The 53-year-old’s pushathon for Brain Tumour Research is inspired by the death of fellow equestrian and champion showman Rory Gilsenan. Rory died, aged 50, in April and had been diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme 18 months earlier.
Sharon who runs a stud and livery year near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire will set out at 8am on Sunday and hopes to push her way to covering 26.2 miles around Centre:MK, Milton Keynes’ main shopping building, in seven or eight hours.
She is aiming to raise £10,000 for the charity in Rory’s memory and is already well over halfway towards her target.
Sharon, whose event was planned for earlier in the year but postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, said: “My hands take a real bashing as I have to grip the wheels of my chair to maintain momentum. I wear gloves to help minimise the blisters and have lost count of the number of pairs I have already worn to tatters.”
Rory’s diagnosis came just weeks after his first win at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). A renowned producer of show horses and working hunters, Rory rode several of Sharon’s horses over the years competing on one twice at HOYS.
We wish Sharon well in her marathon challenge.
To donate via her JustGiving page click here
Related reading:
If you found this story interesting or helpful, sign up to our weekly e-news and keep up to date with all the latest from Brain Tumour Research.