New challenge for James
By Brendan Grehan
LUCAN’s James Casserly who has completed two Dublin City Marathons in his Oracing assisted wheelchair has given himself a new challenge. Recently he received a donation of a handcycle and he intends to race it in the Barretstown 5k fun run in September, reports Brendan Grehan.
James (12) has Cerebral Palsy, affecting his core and lower limbs mostly. He had a selective dorsal rhizotomy April 2012 which involved intensive physio recovery.
James Casserly on his handcycle
Three years ago he was diagnosed with idiopathic juvenile arthritis, affecting most joints.
This year, he and his Dad, Dan, ran the Great Limerick Run and will be doing the Dublin Race series and the Dublin City Marathon in aid of Barretstown.
WATCH:
James has just started training with his handcycle.
His mother Vicki told The Echo: “He has set himself the challenge of completing the Barretstown fun run in September. It is great for developing his upper body. Yesterday he did three-and-a-half kilometres in it. He loves the freedom of it that he can do it on his own.”
Vicki said that at the weekend it was great for them all to train as a family.
She said: “We were all training at the weekend. James was on his handcycle, Dan was running and I was on my bike with Tom our younger son.”
Given that James has already completed three-and-a-half kilometres on his handcycle, he is well on course to do the Barretstown 5k in September.
