Dedications
'Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible' St.Francis of Assisi
I dedicate all of my races to individuals and their families to raise awareness of their struggles and triumphs whilst continuing to motivate and inspire others along the way...my journey is also their journey!!!
Alasdair Rowan
Rio Paralympics - 3km Pursuit - Thursday 8th September 2016
Megan's first dedication was to Alasdair, then aged 10 who collapsed at school on Friday 8th July 2016 with a severe headache only to be rushed to hospital being diagnosed with an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation - In short, an abnormal tangle of blood vessels), causing a bleed on the brain from an aneurysm leading to a secondary stroke.
Alasdair has since returned home following an emergency operation and a month-long stay in hospital with a phased return to school and a fantastic mindset of not wanting to be treated any differently to his friends.
Alasdair initially had some paralysis and weakness on his left side, which has gradually improved. His vision was also affected, resulting in left sided 'homonymous hemianopia' and now has been registered with a visual impairment as his left peripheral vision has not returned. Alasdair is doing well academically and was a keen footballer but due to the nature of the AVM Alasdair is unable to return to contact sports in the near future and undergoing gamma knife surgery in the hope of permanently obliterating the AVM over a period of time...fingers and toes are crossed.