Schoolboy steps in to save the day

James Cotton walked the last leg of a triple marathon challenge planned by John Dixon.

James took on the 26.2-mile route from Portsmouth to Bognor Regis when Mr Dixon suffered an injury to a foot.

Joined by his dad at the last minute, James completed the journey in about 11 hours. He was met by Mr Dixon and a crowd of well-wishers at the Royal British Legion club in Clifton Road.

James had already walked a marathon on both of the preceding days with Mr Dixon at the start of his epic effort for the Help for Heroes charity.

James is a pupil at Chichester High School for Boys where Mr Dixon is a cover supervisor. His commitment will enable an estimated 1,000 to be donated to the good cause for its work with today's servicemen and women.

Mr Dixon, 39, said: "James stepped in for me to ensure all the marathons were completed. Along with his dad, he managed to cross the finishing line all right."

The marathons began on April 5 with the stretch between Worthing and Chichester. That took about ten hours and 15 minutes to complete.

The next day took the pair from Bognor, where Mr Dixon lives in Shearwater Drive, to Portsmouth in 11-and-a-half hours.

But Mr Dixon began to suffer problems with one of his feet. The soft tissue beneath a heel became badly infected and began to swell.

"The heel hurt a little bit after the second marathon, but not too much," he explained. "However, I had a bath that night and the heat brought out the injury.

"I was in absolute agony. It felt like it had exploded.

"I didn't know what to do the next day. I couldn't walk from one side of the bedroom to the other. So, I knew I couldn't walk a marathon.

"But James was adamant he still wanted to go ahead. I obviously didn't want him to walk on his own but then his dad offered to join him."

Mr Dixon, meanwhile, received treatment at the minor injuries unit at Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital.

His feat made it on to TV and into the national press. This provided him with a lot of recognition among passing motorists and well wishers.

One particular incident stands out in his memory. He and James were walking along the A259 Chichester Road through North Bersted, close to the Texaco garage, having just been featured on the BBC.

A couple and their two children were waiting for him in their front garden after watching the news item. "The children each dropped 1 into my collection bucket," said Mr Dixon. "I thought that was really nice."

A 20-year Army career

John Dixon served his country in the Army for 20 years until he was medically discharged.

He needs two sticks to walk. One of his reasons for organising the three-marathon challenge was to raise awareness of Headley Court, the defence services' medical rehabilitation centre in Surrey.

He was treated at the centre, which is supported by Help for Heroes, for a broken back which he sustained in an accident just a year after he fulfilled his career ambitions by joining the Army.

His diagnosis came four agonising years after the incident and he was then barred from serving in the front-line.

He did, though, spend 16 years in the Royal Military Police.

He was backed in his walk by his wife, Michele, and their three teenage children as well as famous explorer Bear Grylls.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP