Marathoner against Stevens-Johnson syndrome completes 17-day trek from Abuja to Lagos

Fadesola Adebayo, the Toronto, Canadian-based Nigerian marathoner, who began a 717km-long trek against the spread of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) from Abuja on May 13 finished at about 1.30p.m., on Monday in Lagos.


The marathoner, who ended his solo marathon at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, a suburb of Lagos, told newsmen that his efforts were bound to yield dividends to combat the SJS.

He ran in honour of his late brother who died of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and did 17 marathons over the span of 17 days to raise awareness and money for research.

Fadesola’s brother, Adeyosola, passed away from Stevens-Johnson, a disease in which skin cells die and fall off, which is often caused by a reaction to certain drugs. In Adeyosola’s case, he was treating a patient with HIV in Nigeria and had an allergic reaction to a drug. He was 27 and a doctor in Nigeria.

To raise money for awareness and research, Fadesola ran from Abuja to Lagos in Nigeria. He got into running following his brother’s death in 2012 to help cope with depression and has been training ever since. During his run, he had a police and a run crew that will help keep him safe on the roads.

Mr. Adebayo told the News Agency of Nigeria that, “My dedication and commitment to raise greater awareness on the effects of abusing drugs and the need for more efforts to battle SJS are the motivations for my finishing this trek.

“The kind of media coverage that this project of mine has enjoyed will go a long way to raise the necessary awareness about SJS.’’

“I have trekked an average of 44 kilometres daily and that is why we have tagged this idea 17-in-17.

“The awareness of SJS is a major instigator to raising funds to do research in the issue of diagnosis of the syndrome, “he said.

The marathoner, however, urged young Nigerians to dedicate themselves to humanitarian services that would fast track the eradication of poverty and killer diseases in the country.

The father of the marathoner, Dr Adesola Adebayo, told newsmen that he was inspired by the effort of his son against a life-threatening syndrome.

“This is a project that many more young people should recreate against other life threatening farces in our society,’’ he said.

Also, Abiola Adebayo, the mother of the marathoner, advised young people to influence progress and development of nations through inspired projects like that of her son.

She added that dedication and commitment were values that teenage Nigerians should be imbibing to better their lives and that of the nation.

Image Source: Running Magazine Canada