My story

A million thanks to all those friends, colleagues and family who so generously supported my mad Marathon dash on 22nd April.

I finished in 3 hours and 40 minutes - the Kenyans had no need to fret!  In the slightly loaded language of these things, that time's described as "Good for Age" - presumably like Saga car insurance and stair-lift discounts.  Put another way, I came 6,263rd, which is further down the field than any race I ever thought I'd run, but then there were some 35,000 people participating!  

It was a bizarre and wonderful experience - my first contribution to the event was to help pin the two ends of a pantomime horse together.  Overtaking a rhinocerous was an early triumph; having Elvis Presley streak past me a low moment close to the finish.  The crowds' support, and the extraordinarily friendliness of all the other runners, left you feeling elated about the fundamental goodness of people.  But it was much harder than I had anticipated - miles become longer and longer; your legs rebel; I never want to visit Docklands again!  Lucozade is objectively a truly nasty drink, but the two I drank at the finish (one given to me by a slightly anxious passer-by) were the most restorative things I've ever drunk...

Through your extraordinary generosity, we'll be able to help move forward some of our educational programmes at Coexist; and make a substantial donation to Marie Curie's work with cancer patients too.  I am hugely touched that, once again, so many people have given so much to encourage these mid-life madnesses.  Thank you! 

My gallery 2

My Teams

My company

My charity

Coexist

Coexist

Charity Registration No. 1113284

Coexist works to help people understand what it means to be Jewish, Christian or Muslim today. It aims to build bridges between these faiths and others, and with the secular world, so that people can understand better how faith affects people's lives and attitudes in a globalised society.

Donations 62

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Dear James - bravo! Wishing you the very best of luck and looking forward to hearing all about it! Tom

Donation by Tom Beardmore-Gray on 19/04/12

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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James, Run well, my Friend. Bill Vendley Religions for Peace

Donation by William Vendley on 19/04/12

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Cool running, James. I've done it 3 times, so I feel your pain - but its worth it. Way to go!!!

Donation by David Cesarani on 19/04/12

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Wow! Good luck James. I hope i see you on TV. All the best, Mariam.

Donation by Mariam Zulfiqar on 19/04/12

£20.00

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A huge hello James - well done for participating and I will be watching out for you on the telly. All the very best. Mary

Donation by Mary Murray on 19/04/12

£15.00

+ £3.75 Gift Aid

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Goodness James! I am impressed. I will cheer from the Highway, Shadwell - I will be with the Serpentine Running Club who will be in red and yellow!

Donation by Susan Barty on 19/04/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck, James. You may need it! rbs

Donation by Robin Baird-Smith on 19/04/12

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

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were I so tall as to reach the pole or grasp the ocean at a span i will be measured by my soul the mind is the standard of the man

Donation by Michael Wakelin on 19/04/12

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

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James - crikey - good luck!!!!!

Donation by Eric Taylor on 19/04/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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James, wishing you speed and endurance and lots and lots of fun. Enjoy it! Katy

Donation by Katherine Golding on 19/04/12

£26.00

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Good luck, James. I sincerely hope that, when it comes, my mid-life crisis requires less "exercise therapy" than yours...

Donation by Simon Turner on 19/04/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck James - we will be thinking about you on Sunday! Isa, Andrew and the Girls x

Donation by Isabella Ward on 18/04/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$3,382.99
  • Offline donations$0.00
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$3,382.99
  • Gift Aid$608.25

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