A Melksham man, who was involved in a head on collision with a truck and sustained multi-injuries in 2013, including a traumatic brain injury, completed his first virtual London Marathon on Sunday 2nd October.
Following the accident, Luke Dark was in a coma and airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol by the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. He spent the following six months in hospital. Luke’s mother, Beth Dark said, “We will always be incredibly grateful for their life-saving actions.”
Now a keen runner, Luke took on his first virtual London marathon, completing the event in five hours 24 minutes and 22 seconds, raising money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. He said, “[In this marathon] I have raised £450 so far for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Running the marathon hurt and on mile 18 I actually threw up! It got harder from there. I wanted to stop but I didn’t, I kept going so I could finish it and I am glad I did.”
As a member of Melksham’s Forest Fitness group, Luke regularly runs around the town and ‘likes to keep his finger on the pulse’ by taking part in regular 10k runs and has also run the Bath Half Marathon. Luke said, “Someone at my running club was talking about marathon blues, where you finish an event and want to do another but you also don’t! I have the opportunity to run the Bath Half on Sunday 16th October again and I am tempted.”
In all of Luke’s runs, he raises funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Beth said, “Luke has dedicated his life to raising funds and awareness of this amazing organisation, and considering there was a position that he may not survive, let alone walk, everyone who knows Luke is incredibly proud of his determination.”
Speaking to Melksham News, Luke said “thank you to Chris Shutts with Aztec gym for helping and making me my running vest and Chloe Gerrish for her help with getting me relatively comfy whilst running and for a recovery massage. Both Chris and Chloe helped me through this massive challenge”.
