Raised: 132%
Target: £5,000.00
Raised so far: £6,576.20
Donate now

My story

 

3 November 2009

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  I have been overwhelmed by the support of my friends, family and colleagues.  I can safely say that running the marathon was the hardest thing I have ever done (or ever want to do!). 

I was buoyed up by the fabulously supportive crowds, by Adrian who ran with me, by Jilly, Louis and my Mum who were there for me at 8 miles and 25 and now, two days later, apart from my ankles, knees and hips I am in great shape.  Nothing can now stop me (except perhaps for stairs).

I managed to do it in 4 hours 37 seconds and 15 seconds.  Given that I make no pretence to be an athlete I am delighted with that time.  Frankly, I was worried that the road sweepers would start moving in and they would be packing up when I finally came in.  I came 28,009th out of 43,745 finishers.

Several times my legs informed me that I simply could not carry on but more than once I thought about how generous everyone had been and how Barnardo's were counting on me. That helped me to keep on going. So thank you all again.

I now plan to do quite a lot of sitting down and putting my feet up. 

ps The toe held up.  The biggest problem was people trying to stand on it.

 

26 October 2009

Well, breaking my toe a week before the Marathon isn't going to help!  Bugger...

On balance this might mean that I will not actually win the Marathon.

 

1 July 2009

I am thrilled to be running the ING New York Marathon this year in aid of Barnardo’s.

I skived out of physical exercise throughout my school days and am a full time desk jockey.  To say that my life was sedentary is perhaps a little of an understatement.  I drank too much, slept too little.  I am asthmatic with too little blood in my cholesterol stream.  I could break into a sweat standing up too quickly.  I started the training in about as poor a condition as an adult male can be.  I needed a challenge.  This is it!  Without doubt this is one of the toughest, yet most exhilarating challenges of my life. Knowing the money I raise will be used to improve the lives of vulnerable children makes the shin splints worth while.  

Dig Deep.  I do not want to have died in vain.

Barnardo’s believes in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. They will support them, stand up for them and bring out the best in each and every child.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Barnardo's and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So please dig deep and donate now.

£5 – just £5 can provide books for 3-5 year olds, which are essential for early learning.

£10 – could supply materials for a healthy eating cookery session for young carers.

£25 – can pay for toys and games for play therapy sessions for a child who has been abused.

£30 – could pay for a young carer to enjoy a day out to the cinema or bowling.

£50 – can allow a child to get involved in confidence building activities such as sport, art or drama for a day.

£130 – could hire a minibus for a group of disabled children to go out for the day.

£450 – could pay for a year’s supply of emergency toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and soap for a project working with homeless young people.

I have set myself an ambitious target to raise for Barnardo's but that target is directly proportionate to the suffering and grief I have put myself through in training (thanks Lee!).  If you have seen me sweating and wheezing round the lanes of Guernsey and had a good laugh at my expense please dig even deeper. 

In the unlikely event of me surviving the marathon I promise not to do anything as silly again for a long long time so I will not be stinging you again for ages so you can be even more generous than you were originally thinking of being!

Fantastic effort. Fantastic time achieved. Fantastic fundraising effort. lol The Medlers xxx Donation by David Medler 09/11/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

What an amazing achievement! Well done. So pleased to hear you 'toed the line'...... Donation by Justine, Dave, Eve & Freya xxxx 05/11/09  

£20.00

Inspiring performance ... what next? Donation by Simon, Katie, Edward, Adam and Benedict 04/11/09  

£50.00

Amazing effort Russell, very impressive indeed, especially with a broken toe. Paris in the Spring??? Donation by Lyn Mahy 03/11/09  

£15.00

Well done Russell!! Just remeber to go down stairs backwards for a few days and the recovery will be quicker Donation by Andy De La Mare 03/11/09  

£26.20

Amazing achievement Russell - well done and I am sorely (pardon the pun) tempted to run a marathon or at least a half marathon next year Donation by Abby Lund 03/11/09  

£20.00

Russell. Many congratulations ! Donation by Hannah Beacom 02/11/09  

£25.00

Well done for all your hard work Russell - I hope it went well! Donation by Polly Lister 02/11/09  

£25.00

Thinking of you today, stay hydrated and keep those feet moving- it'll all be over before you know it. A great cause ! Donation by Nom, Jim, Joel and Hannah xxxx 01/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Russell, we love you, you're a star and it's a wonderful thing you're doing. LOTS of love Claire, Mark, Ruby and Betty xxxx Donation by Claire Hamilton 31/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good Luck, I'm sure you will do excellently with all that training! Donation by Moira Sermon 30/10/09  

£20.00

Good luck Russell, a very worthy cause. Did you take Doddys advice on the training? Donation by Rob Jones 30/10/09  

£25.00

Wow well done Russ. Loved the video. Sorry can't donate more - unemployment restricts philanthropy! Love and Luck, Kate xxx Donation by Kate Ellis 30/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck, well done for getting this far and we hope the broken toe isn't too painful.... Donation by Barry, Karen & Alex 30/10/09  

£200.00

I am the proudest Brother in the world, good luck fella. Donation by Baz, Sarah, Jorja, Seb 30/10/09  

£15.00

Good luck, enjoy NY! Donation by Richard Field 29/10/09  

£25.00

Only a few miles more....Best of luck Russell Donation by Konrad Friedlaender 28/10/09  

£200.00

Bon courage, hop-a-long we know you'll make it. love The Fullmans x Donation by Clare Tee 28/10/09  

£200.00

Best of Luck Russell - hope you get time to squeeze in the sights - LOL Donation by Gill Thoume 27/10/09  

£10.00

Good luck Russell - you've come a long way since Easter (but there's still another 26 miles to go before you are finished!!) xxx Donation by Sue Naftel 27/10/09  

£25.00

Wishing you the best of luck Russell. From Emma Donation by EMMA JENKINS 26/10/09  

£25.00

Good luck Russell - hope the toe doesn't slow you down too much :-) x Donation by Katie Leafe 26/10/09  

£20.00

Donation by David McGreevy 24/10/09  

£126.35

Excellent effort 'fat boy' ! Donation by Davey Le Marquand 22/10/09  

£100.00

Yes you can!! Lots of luck! Donation by Emma Mauger 22/10/09  

£35.00

Well the lengths some chaps will go to just to get out of changing the baby! Remember a record time is just that! So just finish and it's a record! Donation by Lawrence 15/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck Russell, sorry it's not more but don't earn as much as the guys below my donation!! Donation by Steven McCracken 14/10/09  

£5.00

Enjoy the day Russell - relish the feeling when you cross the finish line!! Donation by Spike & Lindsay Ozanne 14/10/09  

£30.00

What a transformation, you dark horse you ! Brilliant effort - and you know I will be behind you EVERY step of the way (literally !!). Donation by Adrian Sharrott 13/10/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

May the force be with you. Donation by Annette Alexander 13/10/09  

£25.00
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £4,461.20
  Offline donations: £2,115.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £229.42

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.