AN IPSWICH student whose sister was paralysed when she was shot in the neck and spinal chord has swelled the coffers of a leading spinal charity after running the gruelling Great South Run.
AN IPSWICH student whose sister was paralysed when she was shot in the neck and spinal chord has swelled the coffers of a leading spinal charity after running the gruelling Great South Run.
Charles Coulson took to the streets of Portsmouth to raise more than £700 for Spinal Research and dedicated the run to sister Michelle.
The 21-year-old said: “I wanted to do something which was linked to Michelle in some way and because I'm at university in Portsmouth I thought the south run would be good.
“Michelle came along to watch and I think she was pleased to see me doing it for Spinal Research.
“The running wasn't too bad as I had been training for quite a while, although when I got to mile eight it started to ache a bit.”
Michelle was left in a wheelchair after the freak accident in 2002 when former boyfriend Alexander Powell dropped a handgun which went off and shot her.
Brave Michelle touched many hearts with her courageous strength as she battled back from the trauma. But the tragedy did not only affect her.
Michelle's mum Christine Coulson said: “It has obviously affected Charles very much and he wanted to do something for Michelle - it was his decision, we had no input at all.
“I think Michelle is pleased he did it and we are all very proud of him.”
Charles, a former Suffolk hockey player, is in his third year of an architecture degree at the University of Portsmouth.
He finished the Great South Run in an impressive time of one hour 30 minutes and despite the sore feet and heavy legs, he is already planning his next fundraising exercise.
He said: “I might do it again next year, but I'm also thinking about running a marathon. If I do, I think it will be in aid of Spinal Research again.”
If you would like to contribute to Charles' fundraising total, call his mum Christine Coulson on 07754 666395.
n. Are you taking part in a charity event for someone you love? Call the Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324788
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here