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Written by Stuart Frew
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Thursday, 27 October 2005 |
In these days of increased awareness about charitable organisations and mass coverage by the various media, it’s sometimes easy to become somewhat hackneyed in one’s views on the subject due to the wide exposure given. Every so often a story comes along however that is so moving and portraying such emotion and human spirit that it is impossible to ignore I hope to humbly relate just such a story to you here today.
Recently there has been a very welcome resurgence within the age-old charitable consciousness of Hibernian Football Club. In recent times we have marvelled at the fantastic achievements of our fellow supporters in bringing a little sunshine into an orphanage in a foreign land in Dnipro, and if this were not enough, we must not forget the wonderful efforts and thoughts of not only all those Hibernian people that contributed so spectacularly to that cause, but also the story of young leukaemia sufferer David Alexander that humbled us and of how the Easter Road faithful gathered to raise money for CCLASP via such varying methods as football matches and Hibernian wristbands.
To add to this, allow me to relate the story of one James Murtha of Burbank, California – a lion of a man and one we - for those of us who are aware of his story - are proud to know. James is a former serviceman over in the US. These days he is the proud father of three daughters and works for the Disney Corporation. His allegiances to Hibernian FC and Dundalk FC in Ireland were forged by his family history of having an Irish father. James is a man who never forgot his roots and how important they are to one.
James’ courageous fight against cancer and amazing recovery against very high odds has been extremely well documented. This terrific and uplifting story of the strength of the human spirit cannot be bettered by me so I will kindly request that you spend a few moments reading those words. Please prepare to feel humbled.
http://www.dundalkfc.com/Trust/Hospice.htm
As befits a man of James’ character, he decided that having beaten off the challenge of a life-threatening illness, he needed another challenge. He chose the lure of the great event – the marathon in order to fulfil his next achievement and set off on the long road to the ancient event. Dublin was to be the chosen arena for his challenge.
As will be noted from the story linked here, James has several difficulties that for him make the 26.2 miles an even more arduous and exacting proposition than for the rest of us. His constant need for drinks due to his body’s inability to create its own saliva being just one of them. May I ask you to try and consider that difficulty for just one moment?
The challenge of the marathon is one that many in the past three decades have risen to. The boom in running arising from interest in the States back in the 1970s’ has travelled full circle and back over that that time. Along the way it has encouraged and allowed a lot of people to experience and understand exactly how it feels to suffer the discomfort, pain, joy, anguish and sheer naked achievement of the classic distance. Indeed, one of the reasons that I was drawn so to James’ story is the common bond that we forged as pals via the Hibees Bounce through an interest in the marathon, I myself having competed in three such events. Like most other runners, after having felt all the emotions and feelings surrounding the marathon, I was pleased to be able to talk about those things with James. It was strictly a two-way deal however. I think I learned far more from James during those long, typed-out conversations than he from I.
James – not content with completing the distance the easy way, will be taking around six or seven hours over walking the 26.2 miles of the streets of Dublin where his marathon is to be held. Make no mistake this is no mean achievement. Imagine the pain endured in the marathon and then doubling that discomfort over such a duration. It should also be noted that when James walks, he walks more quickly than most are ever likely to run!
There was a further poignant turn in my chats with James. Recently another old running friend of my own named Les Skinner passed away after a brave fight with cancer and leukaemia. When I mentioned this to James he assured me that Les’ name would be commemorated on his purple ‘survivor’ tee-shirt towards the end of the race. Les’ widow was extremely moved to hear that her ex-husband would be appearing in one last race.
As I write, James Murtha is now in Ireland, the country of his heritage, preparing himself ready for his big day on October 31. I am perfectly sure he will be excited and waiting impatiently for the day of the marathon to come around – a bundle of nerves in fact as every other marathon entrant I’ve known has been. These are his salad days, the days he has trained long and hard for. All the sweat, toil and pain that every marathoner knows will be in his mind and overtaking all his thoughts. The sound of the starter’s gun will have played through his mind countless times.
A man or woman can truly find themselves - out there alone, whether it’s on the country lanes, on the beach, through the forests as in the county I live in or negotiating a busy city street intersection. Alone in one’s thoughts, and in the challenge lying ahead. Never giving in and never to yield. Rain, wind, storms, pain, injury – when your body wants to say ‘no more’ – but you don’t allow it to. Indeed there is something about that notion that endears me to the soul of Hibernian FC, the football club that we all follow. A doggedness and determination to overcome almost impossible odds. In James Murtha we have a man amongst us who exemplifies those qualities.
Please may I end this tribute to James by asking that you support him and his cause on his date with destiny in Dublin’s fair city? For if anyone ever deserved our support it, it is he.
James Murtha, a lion and a survivor
Stu
Dundalk FC
http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/logo/sum/ire/ire-dundalk.gif
North Louth Hospice and Home Care Foundation
www.northlouthhospice.com.
Ready...set!
http://www.dublincitymarathon.ie/photo/starting_line.jpg
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 29 October 2005 )
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