Late arrival to sport now loves to run marathons

A NEONATAL expert, who got his first pair of runners at the age of 18, is set to take on the London marathon next month.

Kannan Natchimuthu, 46, is gearing up for the gruelling 42km run, joined by more than 30 others from Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), Cork University Hospital (CUH) and the broader community taking on the marathon in the UK capital on April 21.

Funds, channelled through CUH Charity, will be used to improve facilities at the neonatal intensive care unit where Mr Natchimuthu works, and at the ICU in CUH.

The father of two, who lives in Midleton, was always relegated to the role of waterboy during cricket matches in his youth, but moving to Ireland changed everything.

He began borrowing bicycles to cycle in 50km road races and took up tennis — endlessly hitting a ball against the wall of an underground car park to hone his skills.

“Back in India, I never ran before, I was never involved in sports in school or college,” said the senior neonatal and paediatric occupational therapist.

“With the help of my uncle, I got my first runners at 18 — for us, it was only rich people buying shoes. I didn’t tell my parents, my mum was saying it was very expensive and a waste of money, that I didn’t need shoes.”

The trainers cost 600 rupees (around €7 at the time), considered a fortune which would have fed an entire family in their village in India for a month.

“After coming here, I ran the Cork City Marathon relay and did it every year for 12 years. I inspired my friends to be part of the team. They never liked to run, now nearly 50 of my friends have taken up running.”

Mr Natchimuthu also coaches at the Lower Aghada Tennis Club and trained to become a line umpire with the Irish Tennis Umpires’ Association, officiating at the recent Davis Cup world group play off between Ireland and Austria in the University of Limerick.

He studied paediatrics in Mumbai, completing his thesis in neonatal care, and secured his “dream job” in the neo-natal unit at CUMH in 2007.

To donate to the fundraising drive visit www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/NeonatalUnitCUMH