'I just wanted to get over that line' - Glenrothes man with cystic fibrosis proud of London Marathon effort

Callum Rook was determined to cross the finish line in the famous event to raise vital cash for charity the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and to show that he wasn’t going to let the condition stand in his way.

The 31-year-old was born with the degenerative lung disease, and was diagnosed at the age of two.

In his younger years he was back and forth to hospital appointments with 12 or 15 a year, and he has a strict daily medication regime.

Callum, who runs his own car valet and detailing business, explained: "CF is a degenerative lung and digestive system disease. So basically I've got about a litre and a half worth of oxygen in my lungs compared to four litres in a normal adult.

"Doing any normal routine physical activity, like walking up stairs, you get really breathless.

"General physical activities like walking are harder. The best way I can describe CF is like breathing through a straw all day.

"My digestive system doesn’t break down food like everybody else’s does, so I have to take tablets which help break down food for me to get the best nourishment out of it.

I get a lot more fatigued quite quickly compared to others as my body’s not pulling in the same amount of oxygen.

"When I was younger it was a lot worse as there wasn’t as much medication around. I was in and out of hospitals 12, 15 times a year.

"It’s not the easiest to go about on a daily basis but I make it work.”

However thanks to advances in medication, Callum now takes Kaftrio, which he says has been a life changer and is part of the reason he wanted to run this year’s London Marathon.

He said: "I’ve always been into my fitness. I’ve played rugby and football. I used to be Fife Schools Cross Country Champion and I’ve always enjoyed running.

"I sit and watch the marathon every year and I say to myself ‘I would love to do it if I was fit enough’.

"Five or six years ago the Scottish Government funded a tablet from America called Kaftrio and it’s changed my life. This is the fittest I’ve been so I thought ‘if not now, maybe never’ so I put my name in for it. Luckily I got accepted by the CF Trust to run in it.”

Callum crossed the line in six hours and 21 minutes, but for him the time wasn’t important. He had just wanted to make it across the finish line.

He said: “The time is kind of irrelevant to me. For a self achievement I just wanted to get over that line, whether it was three hours or six.

"I got over that line alive which was the main thing. I’m very very glad I did it.”

Callum had spent six months training for the run, easing himself into it and running on many dark, freezing cold wet nights.

And throughout it all he’s had the support of his fiancee Katie, his parents and his wider family.

He continued: "I’m pretty strong mentally, but I was a bag of nerves just because it was a whole new experience.

"There was a lot of anxiety going into it, more just can I do this physically. I was excited as well. Only one per cent of people in the world get to do it, so I felt really honoured that I got chosen.

"On the day you just need to pace yourself. Physically I’m not up to scratch with the majority of people, but I know my body well now having lived with this for 31 years and I knew when to walk for a couple of minutes and plenty of water.

"Physically I was absolutely done in. It took a lot out of me. ”It was a great experience. The feeling of self achievement is just unbelievable. I’m just so proud of myself for doing it.”

By completing the 26.2 mile route, Callum has to date raised over £2300 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

He said: “In a small way they have kept me alive over the years .

"The advancements in medication have been unreal, even just in the past 10 years, and the CF Trust are the ones that are doing all the background work raising funds for new research.”

And now he’s done it once, Callum has the bug and hopes to run more marathons in the future, having already put his name in the ballot for the 2027 London Marathon.

He added: “I have put my name in the ballot for London next year already.

"I’m going to do the Edinburgh half marathon next year and possibly the Great North Run.

"Next year is going to be a massive year but I’ve got 12 months to train properly for it this time.

"I would also love, my absolute dream now that I’ve done London, is to do the six major world marathons. I know that sounds crazy but when you’ve done one you kind of get hooked on the bug.”

Callum’s fundraising page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/callum-rooks-london-marathon