Clodagh defies the odds to complete marathon

Clodagh Dunlop from Magherafelt was one of more than 3,500 big-hearted runners and walkers who took part in the marathon event and raised a magnificent £40,000 for cash-strapped Cancer Focus Northern Ireland.

The popular lockdown event was organised by Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon to help keep runners and walkers motivated after the annual May bank holiday race was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Local charity Cancer Focus NI, which supports thousands of cancer patients and their families in Northern Ireland each year, is the official race charity partner for 2020.

Runners, walkers and joggers were invited to cover 26.2 miles over a number of days or weeks before June 30, following government social distancing rules. The participants were able to record their times on Garmin or Strava and were rewarded with a virtual race medal. The final times are published on the Belfast City Marathon website.

For Clodagh, the virtual marathon was much more of a journey, after she suffered a devastating stroke in 2015.

She was left trapped inside her own body as a result but has battled against all the odds to return to mobility and has even written an emotionally charged book on her experiences - entitled ‘A Return to Duty’.

The profoundly moving memoir tells the remarkable story of a fighting-fit policewoman from Magherafelt, who was left paralysed and spent three months locked in her body following a devastating stroke.

Clodagh’s life took a dramatic turn when, at the age of 35, she had a brainstem stroke which left her fully conscious but unable to communicate, apart from blinking. She had locked in syndrome, which affects around one per cent of people who have a stroke.

It is a condition for which there is no treatment or cure, and it is extremely rare for patients to recover any significant motor functions. About 90 per cent die within four months of its onset.

Although Clodagh does not have full use of her right arm and leg, she has defied her prognosis of spending the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

Her determination and hard work also saw her qualify as a detective in the PSNI after returning to the service 18 months after her stroke.

In her latest mission Clodagh decided to take on the challenge of the Belfast Marathon. Taking on the 26.2 miles at walking pace she completed the virtual course in about 10 hours.

She said: “The year I had my stroke I had been due to run the New York Marathon but I was in hospital and couldn’t move.

“A doctor asked me had I ever done the Belfast Marathon and I said no, when the opportunity came up to walk it over a period of time I decided to do it.

“I’ve benefitted from what charities offer and I felt I wanted to raise money, particularly at this time as they are not able to raise money in the same way.

“It’s my first marathon since I had my stroke, although I walked it, it took me over ten hours.

“I did a 5k for the Stroke Association a few months back.”

She said she aims to run a leg of the Belfast Marathon for real at some stage.

She also revealed the book she published has been selected by the University of Edinburgh as one of just seven texts (from over 2,000 pieces of literature) suitable for young survivors of stroke.

Clodagh, who has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of locked in syndrome and has lobbied government to introduce new legislation to reshape stroke services, says that writing her book was a difficult yet cathartic experience.

“I always knew I wanted to write my story but it has taken me time to feel ready to talk about some of the very personal aspects of it. I want the world to know the reality of the struggle when you lose the ability to communicate.

“Locked in syndrome is a truly horrifying ordeal and I was convinced many times that I was going to die in hospital because I couldn’t communicate the fact that I was overheating or in pain.

“It was only because my partner Adrian noticed I could blink that we were able to work out a way of communicating until I could learn to make a sound again.”

Clodagh added: “Writing the book made me laugh and cry as I relived the experience and I will be delighted if this book can help anyone who has a friend or family member going through a similar situation to understand what is happening.

“I know how fortunate I am to enjoy the quality of life that I do, because I know this is not the case for many survivors of locked in syndrome, and that is thanks to Adrian and my family and the dedication of the healthcare workers who helped me learn to breathe, talk and walk again.”

She added: “I know I’ll never be 100% back to full fitness but I am determined to be the best version of me I can be.”

A Return to Duty is available to buy at beatinglockedin.com

Kathryn Holland, outdoor events manager, Cancer Focus NI, said: “We are so delighted that Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon chose us as their official charity partner. We were so looking forward to the event and, of course, were hugely disappointed that it had to be cancelled due to coronavirus.

“The real road race has been rescheduled and will now take place on May 2, 2021, but in the meantime, to help keep people motivated and raise much-needed funds for us, the organisers came up with the brilliant idea of holding a virtual marathon.

“We are thrilled that so many people came out to support the event and raise money for us.”

“We urgently need your continued help and we’re appealing to everyone to take part in one of our other virtual fundraising events, which you can see on our website www.cancerfocusni.org/events”

You can also support Cancer Focus NI by making a donation today on cancerfocusni.org/appeal, text FOCUS to 70660 to donate £5 or text FOCUS £10 to 70660 to donate £10.