Son’s marathon effort after fall leaves his father paralysed

Jamie Ball, of York, a trainee commodities buyer for Taylors of Harrogate, will take on several half-marathons and distance races, including the Yorkshire Marathon in October, in aid of the unit at York Hospital.

His father James, 69, has been told he may have to spend the rest of his life on a ventilator after his accident at his home in Askham Bryan on Boxing Day last year, which caused irreparable damage to his spinal cord.

The father-of-three and retired Nestle employee has been in intensive care in York Hospital ever since and the accident has paralysed him from the neck down.

Jamie, 25, said: “When dad had his accident the whole family went into shock. He had a cardiac arrest and didn’t breathe for 12 minutes until a paramedic resuscitated him.

“I wanted to do something positive and to raise awareness of the amazing work being done here at York Hospital ICU. I want to raise as much money as possible and to let Dad know we’re doing everything we can to help.

“The staff are amazing and have given my family and me so much support. I just want to be able to give something back.”

Mr Ball ran the Brass Monkey Half Marathon in January 2014 and has signed up to run the Liverpool Half Marathon on Sunday and the Leeds Half Marathon in May.

To donate to Jamie’s Running Challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/Jamie-Ball1.