Inspirational Peter drives on determined son Stewart in the Manchester Marathon

Almost 10 years to the day since Chadderton-based Stewart Jones received a donated kidney from his father Peter, the dedicated pair ran the Manchester Marathon together, raising money for the Kidneys for Life charity.

To their great credit, both the Jones’s completed the epic run, though dad Peter bravely had to tackle the final stages through a considerable pain barrier.

Stewart, a 43-year-old member of the Royton Road Runners club, said in a Facebook post: “Unfortunately by mile 17, he (Peter) was struggling with a foot injury, but in typical he was telling me to push on and not to hang back for him! 

“It really didn't feel right leaving him, but he told me 'go on, go get a fabulous time. Go do it for me!'

“Boy, did it choke me up hearing those words.

“The next 5 minutes were very emotional, but I composed myself and started to put my foot down, determined to post the best time I could. 

“The last two miles hurt, but I dug as deep as I ever have and finished in a new PB of 3.35.07 (shaving 10 minutes off Stewart’s previous PB).

“I still can't believe it. 

“My Dad pushed on through the pain and he came home in a fantastic time of 3.47.22.

“Obviously, without my dad's kidney and the brilliant support of my amazing wife Karen and girls (daughters Bryony and Phoebe), I would not be feeling this fantastic right now.”

It was April, 2008, when Peter donated his kidney to Stewart, a truly heroic gesture in anyone’s book.

It’s further great credit to Peter that he’s still running marathons at the age of 64.

As for Stewart, who has been helped and guided expertly by health and fitness coach James Harvey since November, 2016, Sunday’s was his 10^th marathon run since his transplant, while he is a regular competitor at the annual British Transplant Games showpiece.

Speaking to the Chronicle 24 hours after the Manchester Marathon, Stewart added: “I’m still a bit stiff, but overall I feel fine.

“I could see my dad was struggling a bit yesterday, but I’d said beforehand that we were going to start and finish the run together.

“It didn’t feel right that I should go on ahead, but he insisted and that really proved inspirational for me.

“I’m over the moon with my new personal best time.”

It’s been quite a year already for Stewart.

Last month he was invited to the World Kidney Day event at Salford Royal Hospital, where he was invited to act as an ambassador for renal and kidney transplants.

Stewart answered informal questions from members of the public, while at the same time showing off all the medals he had won while competing in runs up and down the country over the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, you can still donate to Stewart's Kidneys for Life page following his and his dad's Manchester Marathon efforts.

Log on to: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=StewartJones3&pageUrl=1