Andrew has done it! Andrew completed the 2010 Virgin London Marathon in 5 hours and 20 minutes. Running alongside thousands of other runners Andrew pounded the London streets to get round the gruelling 26-mile course to raise money for the Spinal Research, Saddle-Up Campaign.

Just a few days previously, Andrew was stuck in Egypt as all flights back to Britain were cancelled because of the volcanic ash cloud. At one stage it looked unlikely that Andrew would make it back in time for the marathon, but luckily a last minute flight meant that Andrew was able to participate.

Andrew clocked up an impressive time for the first half of the course, but during the 18th mile, disaster struck, an old injury reoccurred and Andrew’s knee ruptured and ‘gave-way’. Andrew explained: “Having already ran most of the way I wasn’t about to give up so close to the end. The St John’s Ambulance people strapped it up for me and I gritted my teeth, tried to put the pain out of my mind and just kept on running.”

Andrew’s wife Polly watched from the sidelines and supported Andrew all the way: “When I saw Andrew half running and limping to the finish line I was so proud of him, and best of all he had a massive smile on his face and he was so pleased to have made it.” ” Andrew is suffering a little now, and he is hobbling round with a big bag of frozen peas on his damaged knee, but he still has the smile on his face.”

In March, Andrew and Emily Llewellyn held a very successful Lecture Demonstration with the support of Andrew’s sponsors Equine America to help raise more funds for the charity. All of the proceeds and collections were added to the sponsorship pot and this event alone raised over £2,000!

All the trials and tribulations of the past few weeks have paid off and we are pleased to announce that so far Andrew has managed to raise over £3,000 for Spinal Research. If you would still like to support Andrew it isn’t too late! Please follow this link to donate – www.justgiving.com/andrewpgould.