An Aberdeen father-of-two, who rallied from a life-threatening illness is now preparing to tackle a major charity run in the city this summer.
Paul Finch, 46, will take his place on the starting line for the Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run on August 27 alongside his daughter Elspeth.
In June 2007, the Aberdeenshire council transport planner was struck down with glandular fever and was admitted to hospital.
At first Mr Finch thought his condition was due to stress, but the base of his tongue became seriously inflamed and prevented him from breathing, and he was swiftly taken away for surgery.
It was quickly established that his illness had escalated into epiglottitis, a potentially fatal sickness.
Mr Finch said: “I was rushed into an operating theatre to have a tracheotomy to enable me to breathe and basically survive.
“It was touch and go for a while and afterwards I was in intensive care, being looked after in a high dependency ward.
“I was off work for 13 weeks before starting the long road to recovery.
“For the next eight years, I kept trying to get back to doing some form of exercise, but I always struggled with fatigue.
“The remnants of the glandular fever seemed to be lurking in my system.”
During this period Mr Finch was also diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammation of the colon.
But he eventually overcame this condition as well and, in 2015, took part in the Great Scottish Run 10km in Glasgow with both of his daughters, Ishbel and Elspeth.
Since then, Mr Finch has been involved in runs across the country, and has been involved for years with the JogScotland Hazlehead group.
He added: “Thanks to running, I’m fitter and healthier than I used to be and far better at handling the various pressures and stresses of life.
“The 2017 Great Aberdeen Run half marathon comes 10 years after my exit from hospital, and completion of the event, alongside my eldest daughter Elspeth who is also training for it, will be a tremendous achievement.”
To sign up for the Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run please visit
greatrun.org/Aberdeen
.
