County Derry wheelchair user to compete in Dublin Marathon for charity

A County Derry man who suffered life changing injuries and now uses a wheelchair will compete in the Dublin Marathon this Sunday and raise funds for two local charities.

Francis Stewart from Magherafelt was a keen runner before he had a serious accident in June 2015. He sustained multiple life altering injuries and spent 6 months in hospital.

The injury meant Francis, a Dublin Marathon regular, was in need of full time care and would never run again.

However, with help from six of his friends he will compete again this Sunday as an assisted runner.

A long time friend of Francis and fellow Magherafelt man, Paul Mc Erlain, said their group is looking forward to helping Francis get the opportunity to compete again.

“Giving him the opportunity to get around Dublin one more time and experience the atmosphere will be absolutely unbelievable – it will be a great lift for him,” he said.

“Francis was a marathon man. He was a 3:13 marathon runner. He was absolutely in the shape of his life.

“He was trying to do as many Dublin Marathons in a row as he could. This will be my 22nd in a row and he was on that path as well. Running was his thing.”

The trip to the Dublin Marathon is something of a pilgrimage for their group of runners, which Francis has been an important part of.

Francis got his injury while he was on his way to a fundraiser in 2015. Paul said Francis was always someone you could count on to lend someone a hand.

“If you asked him to do anything, even if you didn't ask him, he was going to be there to help out.”

It will not be Francis's first race since his injury; he has joined friends at several events since 2019 including Parkruns, half marathons, even a full marathon.

“A group of us from Magherafelt Harriers took him around the Derry Marathon. We just put a bar across the back of his normal wheelchair so three of us could push him. It's unbelievable it made it around.

“We didn't know that you could get a specific chair made for him. After that we decided it would be better if we could get a chair that could endure the bigger races.”

The marathon and its preparation is a bit different when preparing with a teammate who uses a wheelchair.

“We'll not be trying to break any records. We'll go at a nice, steady place and probably walk the hills – it's just unfortunate it's on the same day as the County Final,” he laughs.

Although the Marathon will be taken at a controlled speed, when the group run the Antrim Parkrun Francis does not tolerate any slacking.

“We get good craic at the Parkruns because we try to push Francis as fast as we can and Francis will encourage us. If we try to slow down he'll tell you to speed up.”

Francis greatly enjoys staying part of the running community and loves encouraging other competitors.

Team Francis on this challenge consists of Vicky White, Raymond Monaghan, Tres Connery, Dougie Finley, Rhoda Finley, Paul Mc Erlain and, of course, Francis Stewart.

They will be using the race to raise funds for St Vincent De Paul and Foyle Hospice.

“Both charities are very much in need of funding. St Vincent De Paul are the understated heroes of our community helping so many who have fallen on hard times especially in this cost of living crisis as well as Foyle Hospice who bring much needed support for children with cancer and their families.”

The fundraiser can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/team-francis?utm_term=mGAXAYN5W