Colin Edwards 630 mile amputee challenge
 
   
Setting out on 1 May 2011, Colin
expected to run 10 miles a day until
the end of June to be able to
complete the difficult 630 mile
South West Coast Path National
Trail. He was able to challenge
himself to cover more distance
each day and his new timetable
meant that his last running day fell
on the day of the Torbay half
marathon on 19 June 2011. He then achieved a personal best for the
half marathon of 1 hour 50 minutes, shaving 13 minutes of his previous
time for a half marathon.
 
 
   

Colin was initially supported by a PORT-ER grant to enable him to take time out of his work on

the land (and to cover some expenses). This allowed him to realise his ambition to run the coast
path. Colin raised far more than the grant for PORT-ER and the additional money raised will be 
used to further the aims of the charity and will provide a source of grant funding for other people
both nationally and internationally.
 

Colin has been truly inspirational to many people who have witnessed his grit and determination. 

"My name is Colin Edwards; I live near Trusham, a small
village in the Teign Valley, where I work mainly on the land. 
I had a serious motorcycle accident when I was 19, although I
didn’t actually have my leg amputated until my 40’s. After the
accident a Canadian surgeon demonstrating new techniques
in vascular transplants saved my leg. However, several
operations followed and chronic problems finally left me no
option but to have my leg amputated. 
I will admit that my first few years as an amputee were a great
disappointment, before the accident I had ran cross country for
Devon, boxed for the South West region and played rugby for
my local club. At the time I was farming, and the constant
activity caused a lot of sores not to mention the times I left my
leg behind in the mud!
At around 45 I decided to start running again, 100 metres after
I was red in the face and completely out of breath but, I had
run! Slowly my fitness improved until I was able to run
marathons and severe off road races. This level of fitness
allowed me to undertake fundraising expeditions such as
Base Camp Everest and the summit of Cotopaxi (Ecuador)
raising considerable sums for limbless charities.
 
Why the Coastal Path?

There are many reasons, I have always loved the union



South West Coastal Path
between sea and land, the South West Coastal Path is
beautiful and steeped with history and myth, what better place
to complete a demanding challenge on an environmentally
green basis? 
I am delighted to both work as a Trustee for PORT-ER and
raise awareness of the really important work that we do by
accepting this personal challenge."

Colin ran clockwise around the 630 mile coast path. The path has an overall ascent of 4 times

the height of Everest from sea level to cliff tops. He took advantage of the prevailing camber of
the path toward the sea which allowed a little more clearance for his prosthetic leg to reduce
tripping on uneven ground.
 

Throughout his challenge, Colin got tremendous support from his friends and fellow runners.

Fellow hasher Rambo documented a significant amount of his  journey through photographs
and video footage which illustrate the nature of Colin’s tremendous achievement. View Colin
during the challenge below:
 
Pebbles and Boulder Running exemplar by an amputee Boulder Hopping exemplar by an amputee Why do we do it?

 

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