Chris Kamara's son Jack was moved to tears on BBC television after the pair completed the Great North Run together, praising his father's remarkable recovery from a neurological condition that left him barely able to walk.
The 68-year-old former Football League star and broadcaster, known for his work on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, took part in the event over the weekend with his son. They appeared on TV after the race alongside friend and ITV presenter Ben Shephard, during which a tearful Jack spoke about the challenge his dad faced simply to run again.
"I'm so proud. He's come a long way," the ex-footballer's son said. "He could barely walk a few years ago so to do that is just unbelievable. I know he says it all the time but it's just crazy."
Speech apraxia diagnosis
Shephard also spoke about the efforts it took for his friend to even reach the start line in the north east, highlighting the determination Kamara has shown since a speech apraxia diagnosis changed his life.
Speech apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to communicate with the muscles required for speech.
"I'm not really sure about how it comes out because if I explain my Apraxia, it's like we take for granted the fact that when we think and coming through our speech, it's comfortable, it's easy, it's natural," Kamara told Good Morning Britain in 2022.
"My Apraxia when it's bad stops those signals from the brain going to the mouth so it slows it's down. In fact, at times it slurs the words as well. So people are looking and thinking, 'Is he alright? Is he drunk?'"
Leaving Sky Sports
In April 2022, Kamara confirmed he planned to step away from Sky Sports at the end of the 2021/22 football season, bringing to an end a 24-year association with the channel. "My long career at Sky Sports has never felt like work. I've spent 24 terrific years at Sky, and leave with the best of memories," he said at the time.
In March of the same year, he had gone public with the diagnosis after viewers expressed concern over his apparent slurred speech during a Soccer Saturday broadcast. "The response about my Apraxia has been overwhelming," he wrote on social media. "Unfortunately for you viewers this is not the end of me but 'Live TV' might have to take a back seat at the moment."
Support and fundraising
Kamara has also thanked Shephard, his one-time co-host on Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday, for helping him manage the condition. "You kept onto me, my carer there, he's been amazing," he said when appearing with his friend on This Morning in August.
"He's been there for me the whole time, he looks after me so much, but having someone behind you keep saying, 'You're still the same person as you were before', is amazing."
Chris and Jack Kamara and Ben Shephard were raising money for Prostate Cancer UK with their run on Tyneside. Prime Minister Andy Burnham also took part in a 63,000 strong field.
