AN ‘ACTION man amputee’ who pushed himself to complete 30 wheelchair marathons in 30 days to help two disabled youngsters is a finalist in the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons.

David Williamson, 40, had his legs amputated through the knee when he was a few months old, having been born without tibia bone.

But his compassion has earned him a place in the last four of the Charity Champion category, an award that recognises unsung heroes who represent ‘The Best of British’.

David completed 18 marathons at sporting tracks around London, and the remaining 12 along Southsea seafront.

Funds raised by his ambitious challenge will be split between three-year-old Felicity Gooderham, from Portsmouth, who needs 24-hour care, and four-year-old Emerson Grant, paralysed from the waist down since he was two.

The three-time HBSA Disabled Sportsperson of the Year said: “I sent Emerson one of my awards to look after until he could overcome his challenges and win one himself.

“It is humbling to know the things I do have some effect outside my little circle.

“I was told – again and again – that pushing 30 marathons in 30 days in a wheelchair was impossible. But I did it anyway. I knew it would be the biggest, hardest, most daunting challenge of my life.

“Afterwards I was physically exhausted, beaten up and broken down from day after day of pushing over 26 miles with no time to recover.

“Mentally it’s been a rollercoaster, days when it’s been tough and days when it’s been even tougher – that’s when I had to really dig deep.

“But failure wasn’t an option and I kept reminding myself why I was doing it – for Felicity and Emerson.

“Just getting to the start line was often a struggle, but I wrote the names of people who have been close to me and have passed away on my bandages so I was inspired to keep going.

“I couldn’t let them down, and at some of the London tracks, actual Olympic athletes were training, and I kept going because I couldn’t look silly in front of them.”

His epic challenge was between June 13 and July 13, and Felicity and Emerson joined him on the last lap of his last marathon.

The final third of the funds was raised for Limb Power, the charity which helped David, from Petersfield, get back into sport.

David works for Moneybarn vehicle finance company in Bedford Road, and is a five-time participant in the Great South Run, and has completed a 24-hour wheelchair push and played more than 300 games for South Hants Sitting Volleyball Club.

The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons finals luncheon is at the Army and Navy Club in London on October 15.

So far David has raised £16,400 and to support him donate at www.justgiving.com/

fundraising/dw30in30