Mutual support: Dan and support worker Helen conquer Bupa 10k together

On Sunday 27^th May, Dan Wren together with Helen Boshier, took to the streets of London for the Bupa London 10k – raising funds to help United Response in its work supporting those with disabilities.

The run follows part of the 2012 Olympic marathon route and takes in some of the capital’s iconic attractions such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

Dan resides at a United Response supported living service for people with learning disabilities in Hampton Wick, south-west London. Helen is a United Response service manager at a supported living service for people with learning disabilities in north Somerset. She supported Dan throughout the run.

Dan and Helen are all smiles after completing the run

Dan has a mild learning disability and only 10% of his sight, but this hasn’t hampered his active participation in a wide-range of sporting and physical activities. As well as skydiving, kayaking and snow mobile racing, Dan has also won trophies for 6-hour slalom ski competitions!

“It is important to be enthusiastic and positive about your abilities,” said Dan. “I get a real buzz out of taking part in sport and I would like to see more people with disabilities taking part in challenge events and enjoying themselves.”

Dan and Helen finished the race in an impressive time of 1 hour 11 minutes.

“Running the Bupa London 10,000 was a wonderful experience and we had a really fantastic day,” added Helen. “During the run, I found it difficult to keep up with Dan’s pace! As we came around the corner to the home straight I felt really tired, but he grabbed my hand and told me that I could do it – and we sprinted to the finish!”

“Dan would like to run the 2012 Bristol Half Marathon which is taking place on the 20^th September. Although I did hold Dan back during the Bupa 10,000 I am really looking forward to running with him again – he is the inspiration I needed to improve my running ability!”

If you have obtained your own place in an upcoming running event such as the 2012 Bristol Half Marathon or the Great North Run then why not run for United Response? We provide a fundraising toolkit, designed specifically for your event, an official United Response running vest plus loads of fundraising advice and support. Please let us know by emailing mark.schueler@unitedresponse.org.uk.

Or if you would like to run the iconic London Marathon then we have now opened applications for our places in the 2013 Virgin London Marathon – apply now and be part of United Response’s very special 40^th anniversary marathon team.

Mark Schueler, fundraising officer