Marathon

[Grommit]

This weekend a Marathon is to take place in London. Several tens of thousands of people of all ages, shapes, sizes, degrees of fitness and aptitude will attempt to run, under their own steam, about 26 miles over the streets of London, cheered on by many more thousands of onlookers and supporters standing by the roadside. In addition the television cameras will broadcast the event to many more millions of viewers interested in the spectacle.

Some of the runners will be running to prove to themselves that they can finish the course in their own selected target times. Some will be running to keep alive the memories of relatives who have not survived a particular medical condition, others will be running purely for the fun of the thing.

All of the runners will be running in aid of some charitable cause and will raise money for the charity they have chosen and will no doubt feel pleased that they have given up a few hours to do something they want to do and donate their collected funds.

All carers are taking part in their own Marathon. Their Marathon is not covered by television cameras, not attended by crowds of cheering spectators, there is no one to hand out cups of tea or bottles of water throughout the course, no pat on the back at the end of it all and no one says, “Well done.” In most cases carers will find that the spectators will offer help and then walk away when they realise that the help entails taking up more of their time than they are willing to give up.

Most carers would love the chance to spend a whole day doing what pleases them. Whether it is running, fishing, dancing, shopping, catching up with reading or television programmes, eating a meal they have not had to cook themselves or even just sitting about doing nothing.

Carers are the 24/7 Marathon runners. When they have completed one 24/7 Marathon, they run another one the next day and the next day, 365 days per year. They do not have the best part of a year to recover from exhaustion, indeed they are lucky if they get a few days respite or, in some cases, only a few hours a week.

Finally, there may be about fifty thousand people who will finish the Marathon tomorrow. There are 6.5 million (figures from Wikipedia) carers who will continue their Marathon tomorrow and then start another on Monday.

[annie]

Well said Derek go90

[maureenho]

[Rosalind]

Very true Derek go90

[wendy]

Well said Derek