The inspiration for Kemlo’s fundraising comes from his family and he’s keen to raise as much as possible by taking part in this half marathon. Kemlo explains: “Muscular Dystrophy UK is my go-to charity, not least for the incredibly important work that they are doing across the country in researching treatment options for muscle wasting conditions, but also in supporting those living with the conditions. This is particularly important to me as several members of my family have myotonic dystrophy type 1.”
Kemlo’s father Frank, 68, and siblings Eleanor, 33, and William, 30, all live with myotonic dystrophy type 1, which impacts them in different ways and to varying extents.
“Some symptoms are physical,” said Kemlo, “like fatigue, struggling to swallow or speak easily, sleep apnoea, and difficulty walking for long periods. But what can be difficult is not knowing the extent to which other symptoms, like neurological changes or heightened emotions, can be traced back to the degenerative nature of the condition.
“However, lots of aspects of our lives are the same as other people’s. My dad and I share a passion for Ipswich Town FC, good food and foreign languages, the last of which we have in common with my siblings: Eleanor, who works in publishing, and William, who works in a school for children with disabilities. They both love reading good books, writing, having animated political conversations around the dinner table as well as playing video games together and breaking into song — which they do far better than I can!”
This will be Kemlo’s second half marathon having completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon in 2023 for Muscular Dystrophy UK. “My running tends to come in bursts,” said Kemlo. “When I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon a couple of years ago that was my first foray into long-distance running. Before training for that, I’d never run much further than 5k. Since then, I’ve tried to keep up with it but never got close to a half marathon distance outside of race training.
“I’m running this half marathon for my family. For people living with muscle wasting conditions, the simplest of tasks – like walking, eating, breathing – can become an incredible challenge, which is why raising money to fund research and support is so important.”
Kemlo’s half marathon training is well underway with a training plan of four runs a week. A recent knee injury caused a slight set back but with some careful rest and physio, he is hoping to be back on track.
When asked why it’s so important to take on charity challenges like this, Kemlo said: “I would emphatically urge anyone considering taking on a challenge for Muscular Dystrophy UK to go for it! Not only do you get the chance to make a real difference to the lives of so many people, but every interaction with the charity is a real pleasure. Before I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon, I also took part in Pedal Paddle Peak, which was a brilliant event organised by Muscular Dystrophy UK. You really feel like part of a community and that your fundraising is benefiting people.”
Kemlo hopes to raise £2,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK by running the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Follow his journey at www.justgiving.com/page/kemlo-london-landmarks.
Find out more about Muscular Dystrophy UK at musculardystrophyuk.org.