Sky Sports legend Chris Kamara completed the Great North Run alongside his son Jack and TV co-star Ben Shephard, an achievement made all the more remarkable by his battle with the neurological condition apraxia.
The 68-year-old pundit had to relearn how to run after being diagnosed with the condition, which has affected his speech, balance and movement. Speaking after the race, Kamara described his disbelief at finishing.
Emotional finish after years away
“When I got to the line I really couldn't believe it and then my legs couldn't believe it either and then they collapsed below me. It was so emotional getting around that track,” he said.
The sports host stepped away from the limelight for several years after his diagnosis. Today he laughed: “I'm back. I know I'm not really back, but I am back yeah.”
Relearning to run with apraxia
Explaining his condition, Kamara said: “I had apraxia of speech, a brain injury. So, the message from the brain to the mouth is interrupted. So, sometimes you can't speak, or you speak slower.” He previously admitted keeping his diagnosis a secret from his family and struggled during lockdown.
Ben and Chris, who hosted Ninja Warrior UK and Goals on Sunday together, ran alongside PM Andy Burnham and football legend Peter Reid at the historic race.
Support from Ben Shephard
Ben told the Mirror before the run: “I hadn’t really fully appreciated it, but he’s had to teach himself how to run again. He had to work out how to walk really carefully but he hadn’t done any running. He set this challenge, and he’s worked incredibly hard at re-patterning running into his physiology.”
“Kammy’s life was as a professional sportsman, so his body was his business. Being physically fit and healthy as an elite sportsman, to suddenly have your health and your body changing in a way where it alters how you have to live and work – that has a huge impact on your identity.”
He promised to help his pal during the race alongside Chris' son Jack, 37. Ben said: “We’ll be keeping him going and holding him up, but we’re also going to make sure we make it to the end enjoying the experience.”
The pair raised money for Prostate Cancer UK, after Ben's father was diagnosed with the disease.
