Mum embraces marathon task

A South Wairarapa mum is calling in all favours to fundraise $20,000 for spinal injury research, as well as training for the New York marathon to earn her the money.

Alexandra Barton is raising money for CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust, an organisation with a cause close to her heart.

Her spine is held together by four 7cm titanium pins, after an injury sustained at a work team-building day in 1995. She was left paralysed in her left-side for nearly two years before she had a spinal fusion.

She describes CatWalk founder Catriona Williams, a former top equestrian now confined to a wheelchair, as the most inspiring woman she has ever met.

"She's supremely positive about life, she doesn't let her disability hold her back, she did the marathon two years ago."

Mrs Barton has supported the organisation with PR and marketing work in the past, but decided to go a step further and run the New York marathon.

"I'll be making myself very proud but hopefully raising lots of money too," she said.

"They ask for a fundraising goal of $10,000, but I'm very competitive - I know I'm not going to win the marathon so I thought I might as well win this way."

Mrs Barton is hoping to reach her $20,000 goal by running a series of events and auctions.

Closing this Thursday on Trade Me is a private ukulele lesson with Wellington Ukulele Orchestra member Andy Morley-Hall, who is Mrs Barton's brother.

Also helping out, with the auction closing on Wednesday, is Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie, who has offered up tickets for the duo's Wellington and Queenstown shows and also some signed DVDs.

Mrs Barton has also wrangled a Toast Martinborough package, which she said are as "rare as hen's teeth".

When she is not fundraising, working, helping out on the farm or looking after the kids, Mrs Barton tries to get in some training for the marathon in November.

"I do most of my training in the dark," she said.

She said husband Charlie will be coming along to the marathon for support, and that she is hoping to be cheered on by the crowds who turn out to see the marathon, which draws 46,000 runners each year.

"My goal is to finish it without walking. I've got a time in my head, but I'm just keeping that for myself."

You can support Alexandra by going to www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/AlexandraBarton/