Seeing a Loughburians’ Social Post about OLCS alumna and Paralympian, Lucy Robinson, inspired Jono Whitehead (LGS 2010) to take up wheelchair basketball following his muscular dystrophy diagnosis in 2018. Her story sparked his passion for adaptive sport, leading him to take on new challenges — including preparing for the 2026 London Marathon to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Jono shares his story below:
My name is Jono, and I attended LGS between 2003 and 2010. I’m fortunate enough to have got a place at the 2026 London Marathon and wanted to use this opportunity to update LSF on where I’m at.
I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2018. Those who remember me from school probably remember someone not particularly sporty or athletic and, to me, this brings a very clear explanation as to why! My type of muscular dystrophy is caused by my body’s genetic inability to create the protein dysferlin. Dysferlinopathy, or limb girdle 2B, has caused my calf, hip, and shoulder muscles to weaken over time, and I now use a wheelchair to get around the majority of the time.
In 2021, I started wheelchair basketball, after seeing a BBC article that the Loughburian Facebook page shared featuring Lucy Robinson, a GB wheelchair basketball player and two-time Paralympian who attended the Covent (now Amherst School). Since then, I’ve also tried wheelchair rugby, boccia, frame running, wheelchair racing, seated throwing, and visited the Paris Paralympics in 2024, where I got to see my girlfriend at the time win two gold medals, as well as both men and women’s GB wheelchair basketball teams competing in the early stages of their competition.
I’ve been a regular parkrunner since the summer of 2022, many of them with LSF maths teacher Mel Starkings. Whilst I’m typically able to complete 5k on tarmac/pavement in around 35-40 minutes, Mel very kindly supported me whilst I completed Dishley parkrun in Loughborough, which took almost 80 minutes due to the terrain. I’ve always dreamed of running, but could never really manage it, but since using a wheelchair, I’ve been so much more active!
After seeing just how many amazing people raised funds for charity by running the London Marathon in 2025, I couldn’t stop myself applying to run; although I was unsuccessful in the ballot, Muscular Dystrophy UK have given me a charity place, in exchange for my commitment to raise £2,050. I’ll be running with my brother Mat and we’re expecting to finish within 6-7 hours. It’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever completed.
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for the 110,000 children and adults living with muscle-wasting conditions in the UK. There’s currently no cure, and it many cases, it limits lives. MDUK do vital work in funding pioneering research into treatments and cures as well as providing vital information, advice, resources and support for individuals and families living with these conditions.
