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Cameron Jacobs, 18, made history when he became the youngest person ever to run the London Marathon barefoot, but his mum, who was alongside him every step of the way, also celebrated her own epic feat.
And there were a good number of interested observers among the Charity’s staff.
Cameron’s post-race BBC TV interview went viral after he smashed a Guinness World Record and thanked his mum, Polly, calling her his inspiration.
Standing beside him, beaming proudly, with their finishers’ medals glistening around their necks, she had made her major road marathon comeback after suffering the debilitating effects of Long Covid.
Running and music are two passions that run throughout the Jacobs family. Taking on the London Marathon to raise money for National Orchestra for All, the most accessible and inclusive youth orchestra in the UK, was important for Cameron, who is autistic, has Tourette’s Syndrome and ADHD, and has played trumpet in the orchestra for seven years.
CAM ON CAMERA
Polly said: “We entered the London Marathon with a goal of reaching £2,000 and we raised over £8,000 for a cause we both feel passionate about.
“The BBC interview Cam did straight after finishing has had more than a million views; seeing this impact it has had on others has been very moving for both of us and given Cameron a massive confidence boost.”
To break the Guinness World Record, Cameron had to finish the marathon barefoot within five hours, and he crossed the finish line in an impressive four hours and 31 minutes on a very hot day.
"We started in the very last wave with people expected to finish nearer the seven-hour mark, so we knew we would have to run through lots of runners to achieve our goal.
... at the end, his feet – other than being very dirty – were perfect, with no blisters or cuts, whereas I had three large blisters!"
Cameron's mum
“Cam got a disabled athlete place and I was there as his support runner – there was nothing about it being a race for me, I was there with my ‘mum hat’ on to support Cam and make sure he was safe. I have done a fair bit of running, but I was nervous about keeping up at first, as his first 10k was pretty fast!
“We were both aware of the risks of people stepping on his feet or injuring his feet on something sharp, but, at the end, his feet – other than being very dirty – were perfect, with no blisters or cuts, whereas I had three large blisters. After running on the terrain around Salisbury, he really enjoyed the smooth road surfaces and I lost track of the number of times he said, it was the happiest day of his life.”
AN EMOTIONAL OCCASION
The London Marathon was Cameron and Polly’s third running fundraiser together and was a day full of emotion. Cam spotted his family, who were there to support him, thanks to his 13-year-old sister, Elara, who played Chariots of Fire on a trumpet while sitting on the shoulders of their dad, Neal, who was a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon in the RAF.
There is a strong military connection running through the family, with relatives on both sides having served in the RAF, while Polly, 48, is the GP lead for military veterans at a surgery in Salisbury, where the family lives.
Just a few weeks after his London marathon triumph, Cameron was a guest a Buckingham Palace, there to celebrate his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, and where he met the Duke of Edinburgh, and proudly showed him his London Marathon medal. He is now looking forward to university after securing an unconditional offer to study music performance.
HELP FOR HEROES SUPPORT
Among some incredible highs over the years, there have also been some really difficult times, as Polly explained.
“Cam is amazing, but he faces daily challenges, and services to meet his complex needs have been non-existent. I picked up the phone to Help for Heroes, as we were in desperate need of help, and I knew they were there for the whole family, not just the veteran or the person who served.
“As well as being offered counselling, Help for Heroes also offers sports opportunities with other members of the Armed Forces community, (that) Cam could get involved in,” she said.
I picked up the phone to Help for Heroes, as we were in desperate need of help, and I knew they were there for the whole family ...
Cameron's mum
“It has been a long, and sometimes lonely journey but Family Case Manager Amy has been fantastic – she has been a real advocate for Cam and is there for us at the end of the phone.”
After their London marathon success, more running goals are in sight, from achieving the elusive six-star medal for running six world major marathons, to potentially breaking another Guinness World Record.
“When Elara turns 18, we might rope her and her dad into joining us as part of the fastest four-person structure. Thankfully, we’ve got a few years to go yet, so plenty of time yet to persuade them and practise,” added mum.