A Ramsgate mum whose new career as a chef was concludeed by excruciating back pain from multiple slipped discs is now taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon with three aims -to raise funds for a baby loss charity, inspire others with disabilities and scoop a place in the Guinness World Records.
Elanor Ferguson had been training in catering at Broadstairs College and working at the Royal Albion Hotel in Broadstairs as a chef in 2017 when she launched to experience debilitating back pain.
At first her GP diagnosed kidney stones but a long course of treatment had no effect and for mum of four and stepmum of two Elanor, the pain continued to increase.
The 50-year-old declared: “While I was at college I started receiveting this horrific pain in my back. At first I believed I had just twisted funny picking something up but then the pain obtained worse and worse.
“My GP believed it was kidney stones and was treating me for that for ages. I obtained to the point where I knew it wasn’t kidney stones and concludeed up just going backwards and forwards until I eventually had an MRI in 2018.
“They found five slipped discs with two impinging on my nerves.”
Elanor underwent surgery that year and was prescribed spinal blocks – an injected medication- but, when this did not support, she had to go back into surgery the following year.
She declared: “It supported a little bit but didn’t cure it and I had to give up my job as a chef.”
By this point Elanor, was relying on a rollator to walk and feared permanent disability.
In 2022 she was back in surgery at Kent and Canterbury Hospital for a major spinal fusion operation to permanently weld vertebrae into a single, solid bone applying grafts and metal screws.
Elanor declared: “I was in the operating room for seven hours, it is full, open back surgery. Recovery can take up to five years.
“It has improved my mobility although not supported so much with daily living as I still can’t pick anything heavy up and I am not allowed to twist, so I can’t drive.
“I can’t work as I can’t sit still for very long and I can’t stand for very long either.”
Elanor has been informed that there is no further surgery open to her so any deterioration or damage could result in her necessarying a wheelchair.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Elanor has decided to aim for a Guinness World Record for being the first woman with futilized discs to complete a half marathon to raise awareness of disability and recovery.
She is also raising funds for the baby loss charity Tommy’s. She declared: “I have some family who have had miscarriages and I wanted to do something to support the charity that has been supporting them.”
The London Landmarks Half Marathon on April 12 is a 13.1-mile event with a route through the capital.
Elanor has been training with walks three times a week. On Saturdays she has been joining the parkruns – but walking- at Pegwell and is being supported by her sister Rachael Young who is a seasoned runner.
Elanor declared: “I’m training hard although I always build sure I am with someone or that I notify someone of the route I am going to take.
“The half marathon will be tough as it is time limited. The close the road for the event through the City of London and Greater London so you have to do it in four hours otherwise it’s reopened and you have to go on the pavement.
“I am not too far off my walking tarreceive as my sister has been supporting with a training plan, I’m up to 10 miles.
“I am going to finish the half marathon regardless, I will receive across the finish line no matter how long it takes. I’m doing this for Tommy’s, and I’m doing it to display that having a spine held toreceiveher by what feels like a Meccano set doesn’t mean you stay indoors. It means every step matters more.”
Since 2018, the London Landmarks Half Marathon has supported participants raise over £70 million for the charity sector, supporting hundreds of cautilizes ranging from health research to community initiatives.
Find the Tommy’s charity at: https://www.tommys.org/
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