By Gary Anderson

September 3 - Paralympic champion and 200m world record holder Richard Whitehead making his way from John O'Groats to Lands EndBritish Paralympic 200 metres champion Richard Whitehead has been given his own personal mobile cinema by Virgin Media as he continues his 977 mile, 40 marathons in 40 days journey from John O'Groats to Lands End.

Whitehead, who added the T42 200m world title in Lyon in July to his London 2012 crown, is running a marathon-a-day to raise money for cancer charity Sarcoma UK and disability charity Scope, and hopes to complete his epic trek from the north of Scotland to the southern tip of England by September 23.

To help the 37-year-old on his way, sponsors Virgin Media have provided him with a bespoke TiVo-on-the-run service, turning his support car into his very own mobile cinema, complete with a 50 inch plasma television screen and Sony headphones.

Whitehead, who joins Jamaica's six-time Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, and Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah and Beijing 2008 gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu as Virgin Media ambassadors, drew inspiration from his favourite film Chariots of Fire, as he made his way towards the Scottish border.

Richard Whitehead is aiming to complete 40 marathons in 40 days for charityRichard Whitehead is aiming to complete 40 marathons in 40 days for charity


"My main motivation for the run is to prove that anyone can live a life without limits," said the double leg amputee, whose inspiration for the run was a Canadian called Terry Fox who was an amputee and sarcoma cancer sufferer who attempted to run the breadth of Canada before his death at the age of 22.

"My biggest challenge besides the blisters and sore hips is the repetition of running for 40 days and keeping myself motivated and in good spirits.

"Watching Chariots of Fire whilst running was brilliant - seeing one my favourite movies on my own mobile cinema was perfect for helping me get over some serious hills."

Virgin Movies has created a dedicated #RichRuns collection of inspiring movies on TiVo to support Whitehead, and has also challenged its staff to run, walk or cycle as far as possible during the journey, promising to increase its own charitable donation based upon how far they run.

Since the challenge began on August 13, Virgin Media says its staff have run the length of the United Kingdom more than three times over between them.

Richard Whitehead makes his way through the glorious Scottish countryside while watching his favourite film Chariots of FireRichard Whitehead makes his way through the glorious Scottish countryside while watching his favourite film Chariots of Fire


























"Having Richard as our accessibility ambassador is inspiring for everyone at Virgin Media and keeping him entertained in the Virgin style is all part and parcel of our support," said Ernestina Hall, head of Brand for Good at Virgin Media.

"Richard is passionate that you need to 'believe to achieve', and he is proof of living a life without limits.

"At Virgin Media we feel strongly that everyone should get a chance to live a digital life without limits, whereby helping connect people to the digital world enables them to discover and achieve their own goals."

Whitehead, who holds the double amputee world records for both the full and half marathon, is currently making his way through Derbyshire after passing the halfway mark of his journey.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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