Harrogate father with MS takes on York 10k for charity
"It's going to be quite an emotional event for me because it's liberating, you spend a lot of time when you're disabled quite isolated," he said."You're on your own, you're in your own space, you get those days which are hard, monotonous and become quite dark on occasion, but I just keep trying to fight, keep positive and doing these kind of things helps keep you motivated. So I'm super excited."Mr Howell's wheelchair has been supplied by runner and fundraiser Stephan Couture, from Warwickshire, who first developed the chair for his daughter Chloe, who has cerebral palsy.Together the father and daughter have raised thousands of pounds for charity, taking part in marathons and runs from Barbados to Norway.Mr Couture, who is currently working on his fourth running wheelchair, first heard about Mr Howell's need after running the Berlin Marathon for MS-UK.He said: "Will was trying to get some help to do an event. So MS-UK rang me and said, could you help? I said, I can't promise anything, but I'll go and meet Will."So I went up to meet Will and his wife, Helen. I had a wonderful chat, had lunch with them, showed them the chair. And we came up with a plan and we think it'll work."Mr Couture is also running the York 10k alongside Mr Howell and his team.
The chairs cost thousands of pounds and are created using frames from Canada, wheels from the US, seats and harnesses from the Midlands and brakes from Barnoldswick.Mr Howell said Sam and Jane had never run with a wheelchair before, but luckily the York 10k course is flat and paved."They are absolute amateurs," he said. "Stephan came up and my wife got in the chair because I need hoisting, so he pushed my wife about 10m, nearly tipped her out running. So it's going to be quite funny."Sam and Jane are both fell runners. So they're fit people. But when it comes to the chair, there's a bit of an unknown."Mr Couture said the chair was designed to cope with extremes, and has even been up Ben Nevis and across a Norwegian frozen lake at -16 degrees."Chloe and I have done some crazy things," he said. "It's made a huge difference to Will to help him with the York 10k. He's really excited about it."
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Dina Asher-Smith set sights on World Championship success in Tokyo after defending British title in photo finish
Dina Asher-Smith tuned up for Tokyo by defending her British 200 metres title — but only after a dramatic photo finish. The 29-year-old set a UK Athletics Championships record of 22.14sec to win in Birmingham on Sunday and seal her spot at next month's World Championships in Japan. However, Asher-Smith was pushed all the way by Amy Hunt, who finished fast to clock the same time as her more established team-mate and set a huge personal best. 'It was an excellent race,' said Asher-Smith, who is back training in London after a brief stint in Texas. 'Neither of us knew who had won so we needed that photo finish. But I am happy to come here and run a fantastic time.' Asher-Smith finished fourth in the 200m at last summer's Paris Olympics, but her time yesterday would have been good enough for bronze. Asked whether she can win a second world 200m title next month, six years after her only global gold in Doha, she said: 'I would love that. I am in great shape. 'That was a great run from me and there are a few things in there I can tweak, so I am happy.' Hunt finished second ahead of Daryll Neita — who was fifth at last year's Olympics — and moves above her to third in the all-time British rankings. 'I couldn't quite get the dip on the line but that was a serious time,' said the 23-year-old, who won the 100m on Saturday. 'I have moved up to third on the UK all-time, nearly overtaking Kathy Cook. It is really exciting to be taking the step up. Going to Tokyo and being a dark horse is super exciting.' In the men's 200m, Zharnel Hughes also broke the championship record as he stormed home in 19.90sec to complete a UK sprint double after his 100m win on Saturday. 'I'm excited to see what I can do in Tokyo,' said Britain's fastest man. 'I can go a lot faster. My coach will get me much sharper. There's still over a month to go.' Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell won the women's 800m yesterday, beating Jemma Reekie in a time of 1min 59.53sec. She must now decide whether to run both the 800m — which would put her up against her training partner Keely Hodgkinson — and 1500m in Tokyo, or focus on only one of the events. 'How cool would it be to follow in the footsteps of the great Britons like Seb Coe, Kelly Holmes and Steve Cram who doubled up and were successful?' said Hunter Bell. 'It's hard to decide.' Josh Kerr, who was already assured of his place in Tokyo as the world 1500m champion, stepped up in distance yesterday to win the men's 5,000m.
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Man Utd vs Everton LIVE SCORE: Pre-season friendly on NOW as Ndiaye LEVELS Summer Series finale after Fernandes' pen
MANCHESTER UNITED and Everton are going head-to-head in the final match of the Premier League Summer Series RIGHT NOW. The Red Devils took the lead on 19 minutes after Bruno Fernandes slotted his penalty past Jordan Pickford. Minutes before half-time, Iliman Ndiaye levelled the clash, getting on the end of a superb ball from Idrissa Gueye. Bryan Mbeumo made his long-awaited Man Utd debut up top following his £71million switch from Brentford last month. New forward Matheus Cunha is also involved after he was rested in the recent 2-1 win over West Ham due to fatigue. Man Utd just need to avoid a heavy defeat this evening and the Premier League Summer Series trophy will be theirs, after back-to-back wins over West Ham and Bournemouth put Ruben Amorim's men in pole position.
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rain ends enthralling day with England needing 35 more
Update: Date: 18:45 BST Title: Goodbye! Content: Well, it's TTFN (ta ta for now) rather than goodbye. We will be back on Monday at 10:30 BST for day five of the fifth Test, with England needing 35 runs to win. You can read Stephan Shemilt's report from The Oval here. See you soon! Update: Date: 18:42 BST Title: Thorpe tribute 'from our whole dressing room' - Root Content: This video can not be played 'For the man who taught him so much' - Root marks century with Thorpe tribute More from Joe Root on Harry Brook's dismissal: "If that comes off and goes for four again, it is another question asked of them. He did that throughout his whole innings. You can question it but we wouldn't be in this position, he wouldn't have got those runs, without the way he went about it. He is incredibly consistent with it as well. He is an incredible player. He reads the game very well." On his headband tribute to Graham Thorpe: "I wish I had it in my pocket from the start. I put it there at tea. He is someone who impacted the game in this country as player, coach, mentor and friend. "That wasn't just from me but our whole dressing room. It is great to see everyone show the amount of love for him throughout this week because he is a real legend of English cricket and has done so much good for so many people." And on whether Chris Woakes will bat if required: "I assume so. He is desperate to do what it takes. There is a lot of things that have to happen before that." Update: Date: 18:40 BST Title: 'We're in a good position' Content: England batter Joe Root speaking to TMS: "It is quite fitting for how the rest of the series has gone. It has ebbed and flowed all of the way through and this Test is exactly same. We are in for a cracker for tomorrow. It is a weird one going into the fifth day with the sun out now but it will be a great finish. "We are in a good position. We have another heavy roller available. Things might happen quicker with new ball. It might be easier to score. A lot of things are in our favour. We have so much ability left in the dressing room. Clearly they have had a good passage of play but tomorrow could be a real good opportunity to get across the line." On his rebuild with Harry Brook: "It is a long process but you play it like a one-day game. The great thing is there is no scoreboard pressure of five or six runs an over. "Me and Brooky have contrasting games which works really well for us. That is such an important part of it. The way he played, how destructive he was, putting bowlers under pressure can really upset the rhythm of the opposition and swung things massively in our favour. [Having] deep cover, deep mid-off three down chasing 370 is extraordinary really. That is the impact he can have and is a big reason we are where we are." Update: Date: 18:38 BST Title: How's stat?! Content: Andy ZaltzmanTest Match Special statistician This is the second highest scoring Test series every played. We are past 7,000 runs. The only Test series with more runs was the 1993 Ashes which was a six Test series. Update: Date: 18:36 BST Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special It is inevitable that it will happen. I think England will get over the line and I think Jamie Smith will do the job. I am hoping Chris Woakes doesn't have to walk out there. Update: Date: 18:34 BST Title: Post Content: Jonathan AgnewBBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special On injured all-rounder Chris Woakes potentially coming out to bat: They can't push Chris Woakes out in a sling, can they? Update: Date: 18:32 BST Title: Post Content: Phil TufnellFormer England spinner on Test Match Special That last 20 minutes I couldn't see where England were going to score a run. Update: Date: 18:30 BST Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special To get that buzz again in your legs again as a bowler is going to be difficult for India. Update: Date: 18:29 BST Title: Post Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special On rain stopping play: It benefits England massively. It is a hammer blow for India. The atmosphere would have been unbelievable for India tonight. They were so on top. The only way England could get a run away was a leg-bye. Update: Date: 18:27 BST Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) All those wides and byes from England's bowlers are looking pretty game changing right now. This should be all done and dusted if they had bowled more consistently. Sam, Chorley Update: Date: 18:25 BST Title: 'Brook is a maverick player' Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special I like the way Harry Brook played today with the way he was dancing down. He played some lovely shots, he played an expansive game to get England back into this Test match. He is that good. I would back him to execute that shot, but he didn't execute it well enough. He is a maverick player and I like a player who takes the risk, and he took the risk. India were petrified of him. If that flies for six you're off your seat. Update: Date: 18:23 BST Title: 'You have to give Brook freedom to play that shot' Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special This video can not be played 'What an incredible dismissal!' - Brook caught on 111 after bat goes flying into the air I wouldn't have played the shot Harry Brook did but I wouldn't have been able to play the innings to turn the game around. With players who can win games in situations you shouldn't, you have to allow them the freedom. If you start telling him he can't play that shot there is no way he would play that innings. If he had knocked it around he wouldn't have changed the tempo of the game. Update: Date: 18:21 BST Title: 'They have so much faith in Jacob Bethell' Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special They have so much faith in Jacob Bethell. They saw him in the nets, they saw in the white ball game, they saw him in New Zealand pre-Christmas. I don't care who you are, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar or Ricky Ponting - they always look rusty if they had not batted. You're talking about a 21-year-old who has not played any cricket - he is bound to look rusty. He needs a bit of time playing and getting runs away from this environment. If they feel he is going to be the next batter in Test match cricket, they have to find him some longer format games and get that rhythm of play. He needs to find that rhythm. At this level it is tough. Update: Date: 18:20 BST Title: 'He's played 20 first-class games' Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special Jacob Bethell looked like a guy who doesn't know his four-day game. That is not a dig. He has played 20 first-class games. He has a rock solid defence but after 20 balls he looked like he didn't know how to score. Update: Date: 18:19 BST Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special Today has summed up the whole series. The Harry Brook and Joe Root partnership, it was done and dusted. Suddenly Brook gets out, there is more drama a young kid [Jacob Bethell] comes out to bat, he makes a mistake. Joe Root gets out. Any ball looked like Jamie Smith was going to snick off. Update: Date: 18:17 BST Title: Post Content: But how about these two interventions from Prasidh Krishna in the evening session. Can India maintain their momentum on day five? This video can not be played Bethell bowled middle stump by Krishna for five This video can not be played Root edges behind to leave England six down Update: Date: 18:16 BST Title: Post Content: Harry Brook, of course, could have been dismissed on 19. Mohammed Siraj, however, stepped onto the boundary sponge as he took the catch. This video can not be played 'He's got away with it!' - Siraj carries Brook catch over rope for six Update: Date: 18:14 BST Title: Post Content: Harry Brook (111) and Joe Root (105) both reached three figures for England. Here are the highlights from their innings. This video can not be played 'He's put them in a winning position' - Brook century edges England closer to victory This video can not be played 'A truly remarkable batsman' - Root hits 39th Test century Update: Date: 18:13 BST Title: Day four recap... Content: England resumed on 50-1 and after losing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the first session, Joe Root and Harry Brook combined for a 195-run fourth-wicket stand to break the back of England's chase. Although Brook was dismissed 111 at the end of the afternoon session, England only needed 57 runs to win after tea. However, with the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Root, Prasidh Krishna turned the match in India's favour before the weather set in. Update: Date: 18:13 BST Title: Post Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special The only thing I can think is that the outfield was so wet it wouldn't dry in time.
