Climb every mountain is a catch-cry that nicely sums up the determination Catriona Williams is prepared to put into everything she does in life and her latest venture is certainly no exception. In company with a healthy handful of Catwalk Trust friends Catriona is in training for the world's premium marathon- the New York marathon to be held on November 7 next year. The former equestrian champion who was left a C6-7 tetraplegic after a shattering fall while competing on a show jumping event in 2002, is making her handcycle work overtime as she pushes it up and down her long Masterton driveway. In company with her training buddy Johnny Griffith, who as an able bodied runner is also destined for New York, Catriona has gone from covering the 1.6km driveway, and back - a total of 3.2kms- in an hour, to completing 9.6kms in 1hr 50m. In all 20 Catwalk Trust supporters are training for the marathon while using the opportunity to raise money for the trust. Catriona spoke to a women's group on Hamilton and was delighted to receive a $2000 donation. Two other Catwalk Trust marathon runners Anna Petro and Inga Wallace, both of Wellington, are organizing a fundraiser that Wairarapa people will have the chance to take part in. The two have booked 700 seats at Wellington's Embassy Theatre for a viewing of Peter Jackson's lastest blockbuster The Lovely Bones on December 21. A bus from Wairarapa will take theatregoers to and from the venue. Tickets cost $50 which includes a glass of bubbly and of that $21 goes to Catwalk Trust, set up to fund research into reversing spinal injury. Catriona said the idea of having a tilt at the marathon arose about two years ago when she and a group of friends were " sitting round the kitchen table." The group's flag bearer is Olympian Mark Todd who will be running his first marathon and is in serious training. Catriona said she has not lost sight of her desire to one- day walk again but the journey for the next 11 months is training for the marathon. Winning the marathon for Catriona will be by simply being able to cross the finishing line and to have helped Johnny and her other Catwalk Trust team to achieve that same dream for themselves.
