“Go Elvis”, “we love you Elvis”, “yuh huh huh”, “the king lives!”, “look its superman!” -these were a few of the many and varied cheers that filled the 1hr 57min 49 seconds that it took me to run the Bath half marathon on Sunday.  Running down the finishing straight, lined with people shouting for Elvis (aka me) was a unique and amazing experience that I’ll never forget.  The spectators and fellow runners were truly brilliant and dressed as the king; it genuinely felt like an unfair advantage –my cape couldn’t help but billow throughout!

A sincere thanks to you all for wishing me good luck & supporting me!  Through your kind generosity the current total raised (pre gift aid) stands at just over £400 –so once again a massive, thank you so much for helping towards a particularly worthwhile and great cause!

If you missed my much heralded Stars Appeal radio interview, then sadly alas; that particular show isn’t included on the BBC Wiltshire’s listen again feature.  Trust me when I say it was a witty yet informative interview in which I said nothing to sound at all ‘goon’ like.  As a lasting memory though, if you check out www.justgiving.com/darrenhart there’s a celebratory photo of me with my medal!  If any of you weren’t sure that I’d do it and couldn’t face the uncertainty of sponsoring me, then you can also make a guaranteed donation/post-sponsor there or directly through www.starsappeal.org

All that’s left to say in a truly appreciative and thankful Elvis stylee:  “thank-you very much”

Cheers,

Darren

I’m very pleased to say Elvis is alive and well and in (almost) tip-top condition as he enters the final stages of preparation for the Bath half marathon on behalf of the Stars Appeal this Sunday!

Firstly a massive thank you to everyone who has kindly sponsored me, added their name to one of my sponsorship forms or wished me good luck.  As worthy & brilliant as the Stars Appeal is; running around fields in the cold isn’t always fun but your pre-race encouragement has helped loads.

I’ve had a busy week decorating my cape in preparation and attached is a view of what my fellow runners will hopefully be seeing mostly.  Unexpectedly there also seems to be somewhat of a local “media frenzy” surrounding this weekends run.  If last weeks pg 5 Salisbury Journal article passed you by, then at 9:15am on Sunday morning… somehow… yes yours truly will be interviewed live on BBC radio Wiltshire (103.5FM, 104.3FM, 104.9FM and DAB radio) to see how the mornings pre-run, limbering up is going.  Finally, Darren’s media break (on behalf of the Stars Appeal) I hear you say!

If anyone would still like to pass on a good luck message, sponsor me or shout nice things at me on the day -then as ever that would be greatly appreciated.  Otherwise, I’ll (hopefully) next be in contact with news of completing a pain-free, triumphant half marathon!

A massive thanks again for everyone’s support, if you haven’t already -please check out www.starsappeal.org , cheers,

Darren

On Sunday the 25th of March I’ll be running the Bath half marathon on behalf of Salisbury District Hospital ’s excellent Stars Appeal.  The appeal is raising money for extra equipment above and beyond what the NHS can provide for the neonatal and laparoscopic cancer suites here.  This will hopefully enable them to provide even better facilities for anyone who finds themselves unexpectedly needing them.

Although when it comes to me & running ‘a little less conversation’ more action please, may have been said, this run is no ordinary run.  As it’s especially on behalf of the stars appeal... and… on that very theme … I’ve decided to run the 13.1~ish miles dressed as… Elvis Presley!

As proof, hopefully the attached photo will bring some mild amusement to your day.  If from this you would like to know more about the stars appeal then please visit www.starsappeal.org.  Also if you feel so kind that you would like to sponsor me; then please get in contact or use this very website.

Any words of encouragement (or how to avoid static shocks between chaffing inner thighs of a high polyester content, glam vegas style, flared trouser set) would be genuinely appreciated.  Equally if any of you happen to find yourself in the Bath area on Sunday the 25th then heckles/cheers/first aid would also be very much appreciated!

Very best wishes and a massive thanks,

Darren

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.