Orran Raised £11,000 for MS Society

It is one of the hardest physical challenges in Britain. It snakes the length of the land, following the 268 mile spine of the Pennines.

Runners battle through rain, snow and wind, over seven days and nights with no respite and it was completed in January by ultra runner Orran Smith, 44, who raised an impressive £11,287 for the MS society Isle of Man Group.

Orran reflected on what he achieved earlier this year and said ‘the stars seemed to align’ and direct him towards competing in the Montane Spine Race in January.

‘I was thinking of doing the Spine when I came across a post from my friend Chris [Sheeley] and it all seemed to come together at the same time.’

His old friend Chris had written about what the challenges living with MS brings. ‘This post was distressing, as he described his day-to-day struggles living with MS. Having not met with him for some time prior to reading the post, the image of him in my mind was of someone fully engaged in society, smashing life and being his funny self.’

What struck him was often MS is seen from a perspective of current suffering whilst the alternative able-bodied life lost is given little thought.

‘I felt guilty having known him so well and not knowing about this for so long. I was just too wrapped up in my own life…I sent him a message asking him how he was and just to let him know he’d been in my thoughts. I wanted to help. I want to help.’

‘But what can I do? Well, I can run.’

The training was brutal, it took place throughout the winter, and to build his stamina in the toughest conditions he would get up at 2 am, run for three hours and then have a few hours sleep before getting ready for work.

‘The psychological aspect is just as important as the physical aspect,’ he said. ‘During the race, throughout it I would say to myself this is going to come to an end and the pain in my legs was going to end. But there’s so many people with MS who don’t know when they are going to have flare ups, or whether they were going to get worse. As my legs were getting tired and sore I would tell myself ‘I am in control and I can put one foot in front of the other.’

When he returned to the island he said he found it difficult to accept the amount of praise he received, ‘It just didn’t feel right. There are all these people suffering all the time. I did not do it for [praise], I did it to raise awareness of people with MS who are suffering everyday.’

Thanks should also go towards those supporting him, such as his partner, daughters and fundraisers.

Derek Patience, Chairman of the Isle of Man branch of the MS society said, ‘Every step taken on a sponsored walk or cake baked for charity raises precious funds and in the case of the Island branch of the MS society, which enables the branch to continue to provide vital services to those affected by MS in the Isle of Man.

‘Orran’s achievements are breathtaking -may be more literally for him. Having MS can be hard. However, we get tremendous support from family and friends and we receive wonderful care from the MS Health Professionals here, plus we meet so many thoughtful and kind people who raise funds for us win a variety of ways. However, I don’t think anyone has come anywhere close to matching Orran’s incredible, mind boggling achievement in running and completing the 268 mile montane spine race in absolutely horrendous conditions. He is a truly remarkable person’.

Undaunted by the physical, psychological and emotional stress of the experience Orran is now limbering up to do more challenges, heading towards the Tour de Geants, a 235 mile race in Italy to raise money for another, to be determined, charity.

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