02 April 2007

Couch potato to marathon runner

Amy Jones has gone from a couch potato to marathon runner in just four months, to raise awareness of the disease that has struck down her uncle.

Dr Victor Skretkowicz, Amy’s Uncle, is a professor of English at the University of Dundee.

Amy says, "Uncle Victor was diagnosed with motor neuron disease 19 months ago, the symptoms of which I was previously unaware. As a previously inactive person i decided that now was the time to physically challenge myself, so I decided to run the Flora London marathon with a goal to raise funds for the Scottish Motor Neurone disease association. I have become passionate about the association and hope to raise as much money as I can."

Amy is aiming to raise as much money as possible for the cause on 22nd April when she runs 26.2 miles.

The department of English are organising a conference, discussing 17th and 18th notions of romance in art and literature, to be held in October. These are Dr Stretkowicz’s main areas of interest and the conference will be in his honour. He will be presented with an award at the event, which is currently accepting admissions for papers. Contact c.murray@dundee.ac.uk for more details.

Click here to donate money to Amy’s marathon run

For media enquiries contact:

Anna Day
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: a.c.day@dundee.ac.uk