“Seeing Dad’s situation as someone who was super sporty and active, but who’s had that taken away from him is so unfair. I thought if I have to push my body outside of my comfort zone for a couple of hours, well that’s nothing.”
Tahlia Gnanapragasam had to summon all the fighting spirit from her days as part of the British national taekwondo team to complete the Brighton Half Marathon alongside her cousin Shyla Josephs.
Failure was never really an option for Tahlia, 22, and Shyla, 20, as they ran in honour of Tahlia’s father and Shyla’s uncle Dinesh, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2019, and to raise money for St Christopher’s which has provided care and support for the whole family over the last two years.
For Tahlia, the final year Economics student from Bromley, and Shyla, the second year Neuroscience student from Beckenham, crossing the finish line together was a non-negotiable. Knowing that friends and family had pledged a staggering £13,567 (+£2,358 with Gift Aid) was a further, massive motivating force.
“When I watched a friend run the Brighton Marathon last year, even though I am really not a runner, I thought I wanted to do something like that,” Tahlia said.
“Seeing Dad’s situation as someone who was super sporty and active, but who’s had that taken away from him is so unfair. I thought if I have to push my body outside of my comfort zone for a couple of hours, well that’s nothing compared to what someone like him, with MND, has to endure.
“And my parents never stop raving about the people from St Christopher’s who’ve cared for and supported them and who they say are so passionate about caring for people.”
Tahlia says Dinesh, 52, was referred to St Christopher’s a few years after his diagnosis and that the family has felt fully supported ever since. That wraparound, holistic care has included help to secure funding for carers, providing the necessary care and medication to alleviate and manage his symptoms and a dedicated nurse who’s coordinated all the different teams from various organisations involved in Dinesh’s care.
Dinesh’s wife Jeyani has also enjoyed reflexology and she, Tahlia and her brother and sister have all been offered counselling.
“St Christopher’s have been so supportive for my mum and provided her with an opportunity to talk to people who really understand,” adds Tahlia.
What might appear to be a massive sum raised, has only half-surprised Tahlia.
“Yes, I only originally set the target at £2,000, but I’ve had to keep increasing it and that’s all down to the high regard in which Dad is held by friends and family.
“He’s someone I’ve always looked up to. He’s passionate about his work that’s seen him work in tech, sales and cyber security and he’s also been completely dedicated to us, his family. My grandma always says he could sell ice to Eskimos.
“I think this incredible total is all down to Dad. It demonstrates the impact he’s had on people and the lives he’s touched and now all those people want to give back.”
A large group of those family members and friends turned out to cheer on Tahlia and Shyla, making all those training runs in the rain worthwhile.
“To be honest, I struggled with the training and my housemate had to bully me to run some days,” Tahlia admitted.
“Knowing that Dad was using our locations to follow our progress round the course at home, and that we were going to see him afterwards kept me going, that and knowing how much the money raised would mean for St Christopher’s.”
Despite the horrific wind and rain in Brighton, Tahlia and Shyla finished the race together, hand in hand, in 2 hours 30 minutes and had no time to relax – both returning to university the following day to prepare for their exams.
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