Craig's brave marathon bid

7:16am Saturday 8th March 2008

Sutton's Craig Jones is out to prove a few people wrong, including his dad, when he runs next month's London Marathon in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The 22-year-old suffers from genetic disorder cystic fibrosis and has lived with the condition since he was three weeks old.

The condition affects the respiratory system, among other things, which sees some acute sufferers facing an average life expectancy of 31 and needing a lung transplant.

Jones, who is using the project as part of a physiotherapy regime designed to combat the disorder's effect, insists his lot is not as bad as others.

Even his dad, who has also completed the marathon in aid of the charity, mistakenly thought the disease would affect his walking when he was diagnosed.

And Jones reckons going the distance in under four hours 30 minutes would be a fitting way to lay a few misconceptions to rest.

"It would probably be one of the best days of my life if I were it to compete it," he said.

"When I first floated the idea my mates and a lot of other people said yeah, whatever'. It would be incredible to prove people wrong.

"When I was first diagnosed, my dad asked the doctors if I would be able to walk. He had no idea what CF was.

"It can be quite frustrating because people immediately think the worst when you mention the words.

"It is not as bad for me, but I am doing this for the people who are on hospital wings waiting for a new life."

Jones is a qualified youth football referee - once having taken charge of an U12 Surrey Cup final - but three years of relative inactivity while at university, made the return to full fitness even harder.

Preparation for the race, through which he hopes to raise at least £2,000 for charity, has taken a little extra planning. But it means the former Greenshaw School student feels the best he has for three years.

"I haven't really done much since I was 19 and slowly my lungs have got worse and I have started coughing more," he added.

"Inactivity can see the condition worsen, but so far my breathing has improved and, hopefully, this will just mean it keeps getting better and better."

And, in the process, Jones hopes to better the amount his dad collected.

"I am not sure how much he made because I was only young, but it is a big incentive to go beyond £2,000," he added.

You can make a donation at justgiving.com/ craigjones_londonmarathon.

Update: Craig raised over £3,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.