FROM struggling to walk just six months ago, a Stourbridge singer-songwriter is set to undertake one of the biggest challenges of his life as he takes on next year’s London Marathon.
Chris Passey’s family is “riddled” with Multiple Sclerosis. His aunt has died from the disease and a number of his family members – including his father – also suffer from it.
Until very recently, Chris was also assumed to have it too after suffering from a multitude of symptoms.
He would find himself not getting any sleep and even ending up collapsing in car parks, forcing the 28-year-old to take time off work.
It was from his sick bed that Chris took the first steps to taking part in the ‘world’s greatest race’.
“I was seen by a neurologist in April,” Chris said. “I couldn’t walk particularly well due to my illness and was bad bound.
“As I was stuck, I found myself watching the London Marathon and I thought ‘I’m going to apply to do it next year’.
“I had a lumbar puncture and the tests came back negative for MS. My family in riddled with it and a few years ago I started showing signs.
“In order to cope with it all, I decided to put my thoughts and feelings into a blog.”
It was this blog, which has been viewed by thousands of people across the world, which the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society was impressed with.
Chris’ blog has chartered his struggle with his illnesses as well as his attempts to get race fit to take on next year’s capital marathon.
The MS Society described the blog as a “brave and honest account of neurological illnesses” and has led to Chris being offered one of the society’s 300 places in the marathon.
Chris has been contacted by a number of people from all corners of the globe due to the blog, adding: “I even had somebody from US who was really worried about having the lumbar puncture, but my blog had helped them to be less terrified about the situation.
“I used it a way to put down my thoughts and feelings. Everyone was at work and I was very lonely so it helped me fill time.
“But it also made me promise that, even if I didn’t get picked for the London Marathon, I was definitely going to do something as I couldn’t back out when it was online.”
A stranger to sport and fitness, the talented actor, singer and composer is more used to performing on a stage, which he puts to full use as the chief executive of the Birmingham Institute of Theatre Arts.
He admitted: “I’m not a runner. I don’t run. I’m the kind of person that wouldn’t even run for the bus and those who know me were so shocked and surprised that I signed up as it is completely out of character. No-one could quite believe why I was doing it.
“I have done a few smaller runs in preparation, including the 5k Colour Run, City of Birmingham 10k and I’m doing the Birmingham half this Sunday (October 18).
“When I received my medal at the Birmingham 10k it was one of the proudest moments of my life as I have never won anything for sport before!”
To be able to take part in the marathon, Chris needs to raise £2,000 for his supported cause. To help him reach this target a number of top local acts – headlined by Chris – will come together at a concert at Thorns Community College in February 2016.
Also in the new year, Chris will be the topic of a Multiple Sclerosis Society film which will be filmed around Stourbridge.
To donate to the MS Society and support Chris in his marathon cause visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runningformultiplereasons
For more information, or to read Chris’ blog, visit www.runningformultiplereasons.wordpress.com, or www.facebook.com/runningformultiplereasons
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