My Story

SPONSOR ME LOTS OF MONEY! PLEASE.

Dear friends, family, colleagues, loved ones and even sworn enemies,

As you probably know, I do enjoy a challenge...

So, I’ve signed up to run this year's London Marathon. By myself.  Without help from anyone.  And I’m not allowed to use the tube, a black cab or even a bus.

“Why?” I hear you cry, between chuckles of laughter. 

The answer is because I want to win it, preferably while setting a new world record. 

But - and I can be a realist sometimes - the way I’ve lived the first 37* years of my life might make that just a smidge unlikely...

So why put you all through months of listening to me talk about blisters, running shoes and early morning 10ks?

Well, you can attribute it to my absolute refusal to be beaten.  In 2020, I tore my left hamstring quite badly while running just five kilometres (I was only trying to stay fit!). Lockdown meant it was 3 months before I could see anyone and it progressed into a real long-term injury.

The pure refusal to being beaten kicked in and I'm proud to say that since then, and after spending lots of time with an osteopath, physio, yoga, pilates, massage guns, accupuncture and even sound baths, I’ve managed to get back to playing football and last summer I managed to start regularly running 5k again.  Completing an actual marathon, at nearly 40* years of age, will feel like I have really conquered it.

Anddd, against all odds, I have managed to run half marathon distance a couple of times already during my training over the past couple of months.  I’ve treated myself to some running shoes from this century and am starting to think that I might actually be able to drag these old bones the full 26 miles.

And Momentum - an absolutely amazing charity - is letting me run in their name.  Momentum are the most wonderful people who support families in London, Surrey and Sussex whose children are facing cancer and other life-challenging conditions.  From making children’s hospital wards nicer to providing holiday homes so sick children can have respite breaks, the good people at Momentum really do help. Sponsoring me will make the world of difference to their children and families.

And if this is not enough, I promise if you sponsor me, I'll pledge you a fun thank you:

£ any amount - then I would be honoured if you would write a message of support on the shirt I’ll be wearing on the day.

£10 - you get to chose what you are stored as in my phone.

£25 - you can pick a song in my marathon playlist [for exclusions please see the £100 support tier below].

£35 - I promise not to mention training, running, blisters, fundraising or the marathon in your presence until it is over or if you ask.

£50 - I’ll come and bring you cake (or if you live miles away, I will send you cake).

£75 -  you can call me and give me motivation and / or trash talk me during the marathon itself.

£100 - you can pick a Coldplay song for my marathon playlist.  I feel physically sick typing this.

£200 - You can pick a haircut for me and I promise to keep it for at least a month.

£500 - I’ll get your name tattooed on my foot or something like that.

And if you have a special thank you request or suggestion for thank yous, please let me know. I’ll agree to most things!

Thank you for your support, I really appreciate it. I’ll keep posting updates every week as the day gets closer.

Your friend, loved one or sworn enemy,

Stephen

*Age may or may not be accurate