AS A player Mark Maddox was known for his fully-committed displays so it's no surprise he's meeting his biggest ever challenge head on.
The Altrincham legend was diagnosed with the terminal musclewasting Motor Neurone Disease two-and-a-half-years ago. But far from feeling sorry for himself Maddox is determined to show what can be achieved.
On April 21, the inspirational former Leigh Genesis and Formby manager will be the first person with MND to take on the London Marathon.
Having already completed the Liverpool marathon six months ago, the 40-year-old knows how gruelling the 26.2 miles will be – but, despite not being able to train, he's determined to finish in under six hours.
Maddox told The NLP: “I spoke to my professor last Thursday and she's not happy but this is my way of coping with it.
“After Liverpool I said never again but I've always wanted to run the London. With it being in the middle of the season I've never been able to do it.
“So now I've got the chance I thought I'd have a go. I want to raise awareness because it seems to be affecting more and more people.
“It's mad. Once you get diagnosed you've suddenly got eight professionals involved – physios, dieticians etc – and you're thinking: ‘What's going on here?'
“It just comes at you. It's like a big death sentence. But the more positive you are the better.”
Maddox, who has raised more than £18,000 since his diagnosis, is running London for the MND Association.
And he warmed up for the big event with a sky dive from 15,000ft last weekend.
“I felt like I'd been run over after but I loved every minute of it,” he said.
“When you are diagnosed everything is doom and gloom and rightly so because it's terminal.
“But hopefully people with MND will look at me and say: ‘Well he's had it two-and-a-half years – why can't I do that?'
You can support Mark by visiting www.justgiving.com/Mark-Maddox
