Leighton Buzzard coach battles 12 hour endurance challenge to honour brave transplant athlete

David Killick, 47, will be running non-stop for a whopping 12 hours in order to raise money for Mind BLMK and the Royal Free Hospital, London.

The mighty mission is a nod to Nick Stonehouse, who on Friday celebrated the fourth anniversary of his liver transplant at the Royal Free Hospital. Thanks to David’s coaching, Nick, from Leighton Buzzard, has competed at the British and World Transplant Games to honour his daughter Nicola – a talented young athlete who died from a sudden illness in 2013.

David said: “Fundamentally, at this time of year there’s lots of fundraising but many events have been cancelled, so I decided to do my own challenge.I started Nick as a basic thrower and his daughter was a discus thrower. I tell the juniors his story, so that they realise he’s a World bronze medallist. I want them to follow that example.

“At this time there’s also a lot of mental health charities that need support; it’s quite relevant at the moment. ”

Nick’s daughter Nicola had been a member of Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club with a bright future ahead of her, as well as being a talented pupil in the classroom. However, on October 11, 2013, Nicola began feeling unwell and was admitted to hospital two days later.

She died from viral encephalitis on October 14, passing away suddenly at around half past two that morning.

Nick remembers: “She was kind, caring, a typical giggly, silly 12-year-old. When she died the whole school knew who she was. She was 5ft 10ins and she always wore a great big smile. What would she think of my achievements? She would want to be alive and doing it herself. I’m sure she would be proud and want to be there.”

To help deal with the loss of his daughter, Nick decided to use the herbal remedy St John’s Wort, but instead of making him better, the remedy would threaten his life.

His body had a “catastrophic” allergic reaction, sending his liver into failure.

Nick said: “I stuck my head in the sand. I don’t think I accepted it until [the] Friday when the doctor came in and said ‘you are at number one on the national super urgent transplant list’.”

Nick had his operation on May 29, 2016, and has since gone from strength to strength. He joined Leighton Buzzard Athletic Club about four months after his transplant, beginning his mission to become a top discus athlete.

The athlete has since competed in the British Transplant Games in Glasgow, Birmingham and Newport, winning gold, silver and bronze medals, while he took part in the World Transplant Games in Newcastle in 2019, winning bronze in discus and in the 100 and the 50 metre breast stroke.

David, a coach at LB Athletic Club, said: “Here was a guy who had never thrown before, but we got him throwing, and got him enough confidence to go to the games.

“It took time to find out the story behind it and why he needed his liver transplant. Like many, I probably assumed why he needed it.

“I have learnt how to help someone psychologically and well as physically, and about prejudice. I have learnt so much from Nick.”

The games are for transplant recipients and Nick is hoping to compete at the British games in Leeds during 2021. Meanwhile, he will be heading across town to support David during his super stamina challenge today.

The coach will be running an impressive 90 to 100km in 12 hours on a playing field at Vandyke Upper School, and all with only a couple of minutes per hour for water and food.

But David is well practised at endurance challenges, having previously completed 13 ultra races.

David admitted: “This is probably going to be the hardest one mentally - going round the same field over again!”

Nick added: “I have enormous gratitude to David for taking me on and getting me to where I am.

“When Nicola died I lost half my purpose of being alive. Discus in particular gave me a bit of that purpose and drive, gave me something to aim for, something that meant something.”

David will be completing his challenge from 8am - 8pm today and his wife Alex and daughters Amy and Katie, who are also athletes, will be rooting for him.

David would also like to thank his work colleagues at TP ICAP for sponsorship matching and has a goal of £1,000, with £901 raised so far.

Nick wishes to thank his friends the Carters and his company UltraVision for their support with the games.

To donate see uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search ‘David Killick’.