Mark Rostoks had a dream to finish a marathon, but in his late twenties this dream was shattered when he was left quadriplegic after contracting lymes disease.
Being bound to a wheelchair hasn’t slowed Mark down and he was determined not to let this diagnosis get in the way of achieving his dreams.
Sarina Hospital Business Manager Glynis Forse heard that Mark was looking for help to take part in the Melbourne Marathon from Nursing Director Surgical Division Sue Farrel.
“I was on a temporary contract in Surgical Division when Sue told me about Mark,” Glynis said.
“I thought to myself, I can run in my own marathon another time, but this is an opportunity to help someone achieve their bucket list item.
“So I emailed the man who was helping Mark, and he in turn contacted Mark for me to be a part of it.”
On the day of the marathon Glynis and the team of “Be Kind Marathon” met at 6:30am to begin their journey to the Melbourne Marathon finish line with Mark.
“We had a team of 15 assisting Mark, which included his carers,” she said.
“The game plan was for a pair of runners to share pushing him 5km each time up to the 30km point and then we would all share the pushing.”
Mark and his support team achieved the dream of completing a marathon together finishing 42.4km in six hours and 10 minutes.
Glynis helped Mark the whole way while ticking running a marathon off her own bucket list.
“I was sore on Monday and could hardly walk but as one of our team members said “the pain is bliss,” she said.
“We helped Mark to be the first quadriplegic with a tracheostomy on a ventilator in the world to complete a marathon. His smile and his eyes of joy and gratitude at the finish line is one of the most beautiful moments in my entire life.”
