Hi, my name is Deborah Gilman, I’m 54 years old and I’ve entered the Race Across Scotland (RAS), that sounds like an introduction to a group therapy meeting, some might say I need it! This is a 215 mile single stage ultra marathon following the beautiful Southern Upland Way. Please spare me a moment, sit down and read my story.
Hi, my name is Deborah Gilman, and
I’m a 54 year old marathon runner. In just a few weeks time, I will be entering
the biggest ultra of my life so far; the 215 mile single stage, Race Across
Scotland (RAS) following the beautiful forests of the Southern Upland Way, but
WHY NOW?
Most folks who know me, would
hopefully tell you I’m determined yet humble, and though I have a few race wins
under my belt, my shriek was actually celebrating winning an auction through
the Personal Best Foundation thanks to funny man and endurance runner Vassos
Alexander. The prize? A chance to watch the Virgin Radio Breakfast show live!
That
morning in the studio, I had the privilege of meeting fellow guest, Abi Evans.
When just 17 years old, after a lifetime of living in pain, Abi was diagnosed
with a rare condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Abi was invited onto the
show after attending the My Black Dog Charity Dinner, which helps save lives by
supporting people struggling with mental health. Live on air, she openly shared
her experiences; how her thoughts of living with a disability seemed
unimaginable, and how within a couple of years, she went from being a young
girl who loved playing football and running around, to a girl in a wheelchair
with a feeding tube due to a paralysed stomach.
After
losing all hope of ever achieving her dream of becoming a pilot, Abi in 2022
applied to learn to fly with a charity called FLYING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DISABLED
PEOPLE (FSDP). The whole process changed her life and she is now working
towards her Private Pilots License whilst documenting the whole journey on
YouTube, in the hope that she can inspire others with struggles to “DO WHAT YOU
CAN’T”.
I was so inspired by how brave,
selfless, and positive Abi is, and how her own mental battles and illness
doesn’t stop her from wanting to help others. As she says, she can no longer
walk or run, but can spread her wings and fly and help others to overcome their
disabilities.
With Abi on
my mind, as I was thinking what could I do
to help, an email from GBULTRAS dropped
into my inbox with details about RAS. I’m a firm believer that everything
happens for a reason, and I knew I needed a truly epic, unique challenge to
help raise as much awareness as possible for Abi’s charities.
I thought
back to my life of running. My first Ultra in 2016 was a mere 53 miles across
the South Downs and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, what I learnt
about myself, the beauty of the course, but most of all the support and amazing
camaraderie of the Ultra community which makes an ultra so different to many
other races.
Since that
baptism, I’ve completed another four ultras and raised money for Pancreatic
Cancer in memory of my dear brother Max, though my furthest distance to date
has only been 69 miles.
The dismay
I had when I realised entry to RAS 2023 had closed, had the 150 participant cap
had been met? followed by joy when I got contacted that two people had pulled
out and I could join as a late entry, then the sheer adrenaline that jolted
through me when I realised I have just a few short weeks to train has been a
rollercoaster, but Abi and her family’s positivity means I couldn’t be more
excited or committed.
The RAS itself starts at 6am on the
12th August at Portpatrick on the West Coast of Scotland. I must remember to
dip my feet in the sea first, it’s a tradition! Participants must run the 215
miles over one of Scotland’s great trails, with an elevation of 7218m, covering
mountains, valleys, forests and 12 checkpoints to the finish at Cockburnspath,
all within a 100 hour cut off time. On completion I’ll be glad to dip my feet
in the East Coast sea, before crawling into a real bed while still wearing my
reward buckle.
My epic
endurance challenge is not going to be a long picnic; this is going to be the
biggest ever test of my mental and physical strength, not just during the
event, but in the training and recovery afterwards too, with added sleep
deprivation, and blisters they haven’t yet invented names for. Still, it is
nothing to what Abi has gone through, and is supporting others through, so
every stride, and blister, will be worth it if it helps her tell her story and
raise important funds for the FSDP and the My Black Dog charities that changed
Abi’s life. Every donation will help people like herself follow their dreams,
but also act as a catalyst for finding their inner strength to do more.
If Abi can
overcome her lifetime obstacles, then I’m sure I can manage a few days with
miles and hills! She is my inspiration, the pilot I need to fly me through and
together we can help someone else’s life be better.
You can
also help and support by sharing Abi’s story, or by leaving kind words and
donations if you can to: www.gofundme.com/f/my-black-dog-can-fly
