Stockport Harrier James Pratt will be taking on one of the greatest challenges of his life when he runs the 10k Bupa Great Manchester Run on 18 May.
James has dyspraxia, a learning condition which leads to hand/eye coordination difficulty. This affects brain to body movements. When he was diagnosed at the age of six, his parents were told there were many things he could never do – including running.
Despite this, determined 22-year old James has been an enthusiastic athlete for ten years. A former member of DASH, he is a keen sprinter, specialising in 100m, 200m and relays.
“Basically I’m pretty clumsy,” says James. “I shouldn’t be able to run, drive, kick a football or do most things people take for granted.”
Because of his dyspraxia, taking on the challenge of a 10k is akin to a marathon challenge for James. He has been training hard for eight months alongside his sprints training, and takes part in the Lyme Park and Bramhall parkruns when he can. “I’ve found the training tough,” says James, who also works 30 hours per week. “The 10k is a huge ask for me, and is especially tough on my brain. Running 10k will feel like a 26 mile run for me.”
James is keen to raise awareness of dyspraxia, to help get the condition noticed and understood, as he has found many people don’t know anything about it. He is running the 10k to raise funds for the Dyspraxia Foundation and has already raised over £1,000. Huge thanks to all the Stockport Harriers who have sponsored James already.
Please click here to sponsor James and help him raise money for the Dyspraxia Foundation.
Click here to visit his Facebook page.