Atherton man wins world record after half marathon with cerebral palsy

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From Leigh Journal.. By Conal Cunningham, Senior Reporter

Man smashes world record after running half marathon with cerebral pals has been on an incredible journey from learning to walk to earning a world record for his half-marathon time.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at one-years-old, Harvey Rowson's family was told that he would never be able to walk.

As cerebral palsy affects a person's movement and coordination, Harvey was determined to prove doctors wrong and spent a decade going through intensive physio so that he could learn how to walk smoothly and confidently.

After defying the odds, Harvey was encouraged by family and friends to complete the Manchester Half Marathon in October, and was further inspired to do so after noticing a marathon runner with cerebral palsy.

Setting himself a 12-month training plan, the 26-year-old not only completed the race, but now holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon by a man with coordination impairment hemiplegia.

Harvey, from Atherton, said: "My girlfriend's sister signed up for the half marathon and was encouraging me to do it, so I agreed on a whim.

"I gave myself 12 months to train for it but I was incredibly unfit to start with, so the first six months and just getting to to one mile was really difficult, but I just knew I needed to trust the process."

While the 13.1 mile distance was the furthest distance that Harvey had run before, the 26-year-old was determined to complete the race to prove to himself and others that those with cerebral palsy can achieve anything.

Harvey, a clerk at a barristers cambers, added: "I think people often don't even know that I have cerebral palsy, and I take pride in how I've been able to walk and run like everybody else.

"My main goal was to prove to myself that I could do it, and I quite enjoy the fact that I've completed it because I don't think it's what people think people with cerebral palsy can do.

"I'm not special but I am proud because it's something I never thought I would be able to do."

Following his race time of 2 hours and 9 minutes, Harvey has his sights on repeating his half marathon this year and improving on his time, while also fundraising for charity.

Read the article on Leigh Journal