Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. As many of you will know my father Glynne passed away in June 2006. Those of you who knew him well will be all too familiar with his stories of his youthful sporting prowess. He would recount them as if they were only yesterday. His favourite would always be that he ran The London Marathon, TWICE!! He ran them in 1987 and 1989 for Diabetes UK. We would often joke with a small amount of competitveness that I would one day run The London Marathon and attempt to beat his time of 3hr 45mins. Well, in memory of him I am going to attempt to do exactly that. I am running the Flora London Marathon 2008 for Diabetes UK and intend to do it in 3hrs 44mins or under!!

Again those of you who knew Glynne well will know that he suffered with the disease Diabetes and absolutely hated it. He always wished for a day when there would be a cure or prevention for diabetes. Diabetes UK is a charity that works towards this dream and receives no government funding. They have given me a Golden Bond place in this years marathon which is effectively just a guaranteed place to run. So please in memory of my Dad and to help the continuing research and aid that Diabetes UK gives to diabetics all over the UK every day dig deep, be as generous as possible and sponsor me online.

Well...the day has been and gone!! I completed the Flora London Marathon 2008 in the official time of 4hrs 19mins. A whole 21 minutes outside my Dads official time of 3hrs 58mins...whilst I obviously wish I had beaten his time I am just over the moon to have completed it in a respectable time.
There a massive high's and lows...from the excruciating cramp at mile 16 and again at mile 20 with a Womble freshly striding past you (yes it happened) to the sheer elation of crossing the finishing line having run the whole way without walking once and realising what you've achieved is an incredible experience!!
I have now experienced the wall and good human nature in the Capital City. I ate more jelly beans, jelly babies and chewitts all the way round the marathon than I would on a normal day!! On top of this the phenomenal piece of chocolate brownie at 25 miles was delightful!!

A massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored me...thinking of all the money and I've raised and having Dad in mind helped me run the entire way!! I am very greatful and next time we are out remind me and I'll buy you a beer!!

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Diabetes UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK 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,

Gareth.