Thrings lawyer David Harper has overcome his second major challenge of the year by successfully completing the New York Marathon.
In freezing temperatures and 50 mph winds, David crossed the finish line in Central Park in an impressive four hours and 37 minutes.
And, as if completing the gruelling 26.2-mile course is not a herculean effort in itself, David’s feat is all the more remarkable given it is just four months since he was treated for testicular cancer.
After discovering a small lump in late May, David was treated by doctors at St Mary’s Hospital in London. Looking to turn his situation into a positive experience, he vowed to head across the Atlantic and join 60,000 runners on the start line for the world’s largest marathon.
David is also looking to promote awareness of testicular cancer and raise much-needed funds for Orchid, the only UK-registered charity to focus entirely on male-specific cancers. So far he has raised a staggering £1,768, with Thrings also set to contribute to his final total.
David says: “This was not my first marathon, but it was undoubtedly the toughest. The conditions were far from ideal, it was hillier than I had expected and I certainly hadn’t bargained on spending four-and-a-half hours battling very cold weather and strong winds.
“But overall the race was a wonderful experience, and I got so much encouragement from the crowd and my fellow runners. The soreness I felt pounding the New York streets is more than offset by the funds I aim to donate to Orchid and the awareness I have hopefully raised about testicular cancer among men of all ages.
“The support I have received from everyone has been incredible, and while I loved the experience of running a marathon in New York, my main reason for doing it is to remind all men that testicular cancer is treatable and curable if caught early.”
David’s New York Marathon may be over, but there is still time to register your support. To donate, just visit www.justgiving.com/dharper.
