I was born with Cystic Fibrosis,  part of my treatment regime was percussion /physiotherapy every night to keep my lungs clear. 

It always caused lots of problems, tears and arguments as I  hated doing it.

I was very weak as a youngster in the early years of school and couldn’t keep up with my piers,  often spending play time inside needimg snacks to keep my energy up to be able to complete the school day.

I became stronger as the years passed and by aged 11 I had caught up to my peers. 

In a PE lesson in my last months of junior school we ran a 800 and I came first . I was shocked and couldn’t believe it, I remember running home to tell my dad in amazement. 

He said If I could prove to him could run I could use that as my treatment plan instead of percussion for physiotherapy to keep my chest clear.

I ran along the coast road with him following me in the car.

If couldn’t get out running I had to run up and down the stairs 100 times to keep my chest clear .

In senior school I started representing the school in the 800mm,  1500m and cross country,  cross-country being my favourite distance.

I started going to Loftus running club but with my dad working it wasn’t always easy to get there.

My dad, Stan Martin used to go to the sports club on a Friday night. He was friends with Liz Grimwood and Peter Bolton , he was speaking to them about the idea and possibility of starting a club up in New Marske so I would always be able to get to it on my own. They approached Harry Gamble Thompson about being involved .

He was running for Cleveland Harriers at the time and wasn’t ready to leave them just yet but he said he could put them involved with a trainer called Tom Farrell who when asked was happy to be involved .

The first  club meeting was arranged at Jubilee hall , Wednesday 8th January 1986 and New Marske Harriers was born. The rest is History 

My Dad died 2 years later so never saw how successful NMH became but I know he would be very proud of everyone involved in its history who have made it the renowned club it’s today.  It definitely feels an important part of my history. 

I ran for the club for the next 2 years but then my health started deteriorating.

By 1989/90 I was no longer able to run and by 1992 , I was on the lung transplant list, given 18 months to live. 

After my double lung transplant I went on to compete in the Transplant games but I could never achieve the fitness or strengh I had as a runner when I was young before my health deteriorated.  

I will always have fond memories of NMH and be proud of my dad’s involvement in getting it started . 

They still have a memorial trophy they give out every year in my dad’s name which means a lot to me. 

Thanks to everyone who has worked hard over the years to make it the success it is today. 

Vicky Pettersen,  (Martin )