'After 5 years in a wheelchair - now I'm running a marathon'

An "inspiring" mum who was unable to walk for almost five years after getting sepsis is to run the London Marathon for a charity which supports survivors of domestic abuse.

Micky Marsden, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, used a wheelchair after she got ill in 2014 and only managed to stand by herself again in late 2018.

After an "astounding" recovery, she started running for the first time in February last year using the Couch to 5k app.

Micky, who is a domestic abuse survivor, said her driving force in the running the gruelling 26.2 miles (42 km) for Positive Action in the Community (PAC), a service she said she wished she would have had access to many years ago.

More than 59,000 runners are expected in this year's London Marathon.

The 36-year-old said the first time she went running she could not even reach the end of her street but learning about PAC's work in the community became the catalyst towards her huge feat of getting ready to run the marathon.

The mum of one completed the Blackpool Music 10k in July then the Manchester half marathon in October.

Since entering her official London Marathon training block in December, she has run 300km over the last four months, with her longest single run 30km.

Now safely in her taper period before the London Marathon, she feels fully prepared for the big day.

Micky said she wished she had access to a charity like PAC whilst growing up - to provide the help that was lacking then.

"I am running the London Marathon to raise the profile of this issue and this charity and crucially raise financial help for PAC.

"They provide the kind of support I wish I had when I was younger."

She added: "No one should feel invisible."

The local community has rallied behind her incredible effort with local businesses and individuals sponsoring each of the 26 miles of her marathon.

Micky said their names would be proudly displayed on her race day jersey.

She has already raised more than £4,000 ahead of the race.

Leroy Philbrook, community engagement manager at PAC, said Micky's journey from sepsis and in a wheelchair for five years "to the most famous marathon in the world" was nothing short of "astounding".

He added: "Underneath all of that is her passion to make sure there is help out there for others experiencing domestic abuse; that is truly inspiring."

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