A number of amputee walkers will participate in two walks today and tomorrow in an effort to raise funds to participate in the annual Boston Marathon event in the United States of America in April.
The team is being led by the now legendary William `The Conqueror’ France, M.S, who yesterday told Stabroek Sports that he plans to participate in several events internationally this year including the annual Terry Fox Run and the New York Marathon.
In 1997 France became the first amputee to compete in the Boston Marathon.
Since then he has competed in a number of marathon events both locally and internationally.
Today’s event will commence at the Berbice River Bridge and the participants will walk until 4pm when they plan to call it a day.
France said yesterday that they plan to rest at the Cheshire Home at Unity, Mahaica from where they will commence the second part of their journey tomorrow from 7am which will end at Ramchand Auto Sales on Sherriff Street.
‘We plan to reach there by 4pm but we have until 5pm to complete the journey,” he told Stabroek Sports last evening.
France said he will be accompanied by Godfrey Williams and Looklugth `Anil’ Perreira, Gavin Jeffries of Essequibo and Prince Bedlow of Sophia.
Additionally, France said 17-year-old Reon Norville, who lost one of his feet some nine months ago will be participating to some degree along with wheelchair athletes Frederick Uttrum and John Edwards.
However, amputee Dennis Burns, a regular amputee walker is ill and will not be able to participate, said France, a winner of the Walter Rodney Award.
France said they need $1.23m to attend the Boston Marathon but have been able to raise $326,000 to date.
France, who is president of the Differently Abled Athletics Club, said he wanted to stress that he does not get paid for these walks.
“The Boston Marathon is on April 21st and I plan to take part in the Terry Fox Run and the New York Marathon. I want to be the oldest amputee walker at 60 to compete in the New York Marathon,” he said.
France said he would like to thank the management of Ramchand Auto Sales, Banks DIH Limited, DDL and Clearwater for the support.
