Spinal Research supporter Sarah Haddock made waves at this year’s London Marathon by setting a new Guinness World Record all while dressed as a fish.
Sarah became the fastest female to complete a marathon dressed as a fish, finishing the 26.2-mile route in under eight hours while wearing a full swordfish costume.
“It was so hard, but an incredible experience that I will never forget,” said Sarah. “I have sclerosis and just after the 11-mile mark I felt my toe break, so I was in agony for the rest of the run. But the support I received was unreal, even a fist pump from Joe Wicks, and to get a world record on top is wonderful.”
Sarah took on the marathon to raise vital funds for Spinal Research after a life-changing accident in 2021 left her husband, Paul, paralysed from the neck down.
While on holiday in Corfu, Paul collapsed in the bathroom and lay on the floor for six hours before friends found him. He was just minutes from death. After being stabilised in hospital, he was flown home to Medway Hospital, and later transferred to Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit where he began his long journey of recovery.
The couple’s lives have changed dramatically since Paul’s injury. Sarah, a former retail manager, now works as a clinical support worker at Medway Hospital and is starting a physiotherapy apprenticeship, inspired by the care Paul received and the progress he continues to make.
“He was my first love. We’ve been together 20 years and I’m just so proud of him,” said Sarah. “After the accident, everything turned upside down, but we’ve found a different path forward together.”
Sarah lives with systemic sclerosis, a rare and painful condition, and was also diagnosed with PTSD following Paul’s accident. Despite this, she was determined to take on the London Marathon to support research into spinal cord injury.
“Paul was so fit and loved hiking I’ve always been the sick one, but after the accident, I really wanted to do something for Spinal Research to help people like him. And with a name like Haddock, why not do it dressed as a swordfish?”
Congratulations to Sarah on her amazing achievement.
