Heywood man determined to run 2019 marathon for The Christie after recovering from broken leg

A Heywood man who broke his leg on his way to a charity cycling event is more determined than ever to complete the 2019 Manchester Marathon for The Christie.

Last year, Lee Tennant and his friend Phil Wainwright had planned to cycle from Manchester to Blackpool for the British Heart Foundation. Cycling to the start, Lee unfortunately fell off his bike and badly broke his leg, requiring extensive surgery and physiotherapy.

Lee explained: “Luckily, a van driver coming the other way stopped and helped me out of the road and onto the pavement, and a passing car with two nurses also stopped. As well as great pain from the break, there’s a high risk of internal bleeding from sharp broken bone cutting blood vessels. They were great, as were the police, who controlled the traffic.

“I was in hospital for four days and had a femoral pin put in to hold my leg together. It was a major operation, but it was successful and my leg was back in one piece.

“I spent a couple of weeks in hospital, until I could get about on crutches and was able to cope at home with the stairs. The staff on the second ward I was on in hospital were amazing and a credit to the NHS and we made sure they knew that.

“Once home the hard work really started.  Luckily, my wife, Beth, used to work in theatres as a sister and is now a sports therapist.  She made sure I had exercises that would help aid my recovery and build strength, mobility and range of movement.”

Lee was told by the hospital that it takes approximately 12 months to heal after his injury, due to the trauma of the accident and the surgery.  

No stranger to fitness, Lee has previously cycled the coast of England (east to west) and the length of Wales (north of south) for cancer research, completed several 10k races plus a half marathon, in addition to climbing the National Three Peaks and Yorkshire Three Peaks.

He has also cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End for Bolton Hospice.

As a result of his accident, Lee had to cancel his places in this year’s Manchester Marathon and half marathon, instead setting his sights on completing both in 2019.

He said: “Running the marathon in April next year would be a big goal for me if I was at normal fitness, but it’s an even bigger one coming back from this injury.  I will be running it for The Christie, as they have done lots of good work looking after one of my wife’s best friends, Karen, who has terminal cancer. Karen is also the reason Beth and I met and have been married as long as we have. 

“Running the marathon and raising as much as I can for charity means so much to me. Cancer charities have always meant a great deal to me, as in the past many close friends and family have suffered from it and some lost their lives.  But thanks to various cancer charities, their suffering was eased and treatment given.

“Rehab is a long hard road, much harder than all the training and events I have done in the past by a very long way.  It was depressing at times being stuck inside, when before I was such an active and outdoorsy person.  It was tiring doing all the exercises, but if I ever wanted to run again, I had to put the effort in.

“I set my goal for doing both [the half and full marathons)] next year. Rob Hughes, a friend from work who completed his first London Marathon, is running the Manchester Marathon with me. These are my big goals. I am also looking into trying out trail running and Canicross too.

“It’s a long hard road, and it’s the hardest thing I've ever done to come back from the injury, not just to get back walking again but to run the Manchester Marathon, but I just want to do whatever I can to help a really great charity.”

To donate, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/titaniumside