Leon's One Year Marathon
Event: Virgin London Marathon 2012 on 22/04/2012
£1,429.20 raised
52 donations
My Target:
£1,429.20 raised so far
How to make a donation
Donate online at - www.justgiving.com/leonsoneyearmarathon
By mobile internet Scan this code on your smartphone to go straight to Leon Elias's page.
By text message to donate £10 Text LEON85 £10
to 70070
My story
Post-marathon update:
Wow, what an amazing experience... I completed the 2012 London Marathon in 5hrs 05mins 30secs!
A massive thank you to everyone for all the messages of support and very generous donations, they really kept me going on the day when I felt like I was on my last legs.
Having never run a marathon before, or even a 10k run for that matter, I had no idea what to expect.
The crowd support was incredible. From start to finish everybody was so friendly and enthusiastic. I highly recommend having your name printed on your running top. I lost count of the number of times I heard the crowd cheering me on, it really did help, especially during the latter stages of the race.
The mass start time for the race was 9.45am but starting at the back of the field it took me half an hour just to reach the start line.
I started off slower than I would have liked due to the sheer volume of runners in front of me. After about six miles the traffic thinned out and I managed to run the first 18 miles without stopping. At that point I had a 30 second break and then continued without stopping until I arrived at the 19 mile point, doing the same again until I reached 20 miles… it was at this point I hit “the wall”.
In my marathon training the longest distance I had covered was just under 20 miles… my whole body was now aching, especially my thighs and knees… 26.2 miles seemed like an eternity away!
Miles 20-24 were extremely tough, both physically and mentally draining but I managed to get through it by reminding myself of the excellent cause I was running for and the family and friends waiting for me at the finish line… the crowd really picked me up and by the time I got to 24 miles I had a second wind.
Miles 24-26.2 were definitely the most enjoyable part of the race… London looked beautiful as I ran through Westminster down Birdcage Walk, past Buckingham Palace and then, finally, onto The Mall.
As I approached the final half mile I was greeted with loud cheers from family, friends and PAC staff waiting for me at various different points on the home straight.
Crossing the finishing line was an incredible feeling and running the London Marathon for PAC is something I will never forget… my knees certainly won’t!
Why I am running the marathon for PAC:
On the day of the marathon it will be exactly one year since I started working for PAC. Over that time I've learned a lot about the great work that PAC does in supporting adoptive families, birth families, adopted adults, and others who are involved in adoption and other forms of permanent care. I've always wanted to run a marathon, but to do it for such a worthy cause will be really special!
I've worked out that I'll be running just over a tenth of a kilometre for every day since I started working at PAC. Looking at it like that it doesn't seem too daunting... maybe... :s
Anyway, I have now begun training in earnest (despite a late start due to a broken wrist) and hope to be able to come in at under five hours... I do have a specific time in mind, but I'd rather to keep that to myself!
I'm hoping to raise as much as possible for PAC, so please donate what you can!!
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 PAC and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting PAC's costs!
My gallery 5
My charity
PAC
Charity Registration No. 294998
PAC support all those involved in adoption and other forms of permanent care, at all stages. PAC operates a daily advice line staffed by qualified and experienced counsellors and offers consultation, assessments, counselling, intensive therapeutic work, workshops & groups and professonal training.
Donations 52
Congratulations!!
Donation by david woodgate on 30/05/12
£20.00
Well done Leon! We're so proud of you! x
Donation by Roz Read on 05/05/12
£25.00
+ £6.25 Gift Aid
Well done Leon!
Donation by katerina efthimiou on 25/04/12
£10.00
+ £2.50 Gift Aid
Donation by liam kane on 22/04/12
£50.00
+ £12.50 Gift Aid
Donation by george elias on 21/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
The very best of luck cuzzy! You can do it! Love ya. Xxx
Donation by Lily Harris on 21/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Donation by Birte Leimkuehler on 21/04/12
£26.00
+ £6.50 Gift Aid
Good luck leaps xx
Donation by Lucy Dunn on 21/04/12
£10.00
+ £2.50 Gift Aid
Donation by Michael Dobson on 21/04/12
£10.00
+ £2.50 Gift Aid
YOU CAN DO IT BRO! LOVE JIM AND HANNAH XX
Donation by JAMES DUNN on 20/04/12
£20.00
hurry up and bring back the tank!!!
Donation by adam north on 20/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Best of luck for Sunday
Donation by N Lazari on 20/04/12
£25.00
+ £6.25 Gift Aid
Good luck on Sunday
Donation by L Lazari on 20/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Wishing you very good luck
Donation by C Lazari on 20/04/12
£30.00
+ £7.50 Gift Aid
Leon We have had tremendous support from PAC. The help and inspiration that PAC have given us are deeply appreciated .Good luck!
Donation by The Igel Family on 20/04/12
Good luck on Sunday
Donation by Joy Murphy on 19/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Good Luck and wish you all the best
Donation by Maria Savva on 19/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Good luck bro!
Donation by Ben Manning on 19/04/12
£25.00
+ £6.25 Gift Aid
Good luck
Donation by Dorothy Carr on 19/04/12
£10.00
+ £2.50 Gift Aid
Great cause, good work. Good luck.
Donation by Ruth Layzell on 18/04/12
Bruva B!!!! wishing u all the best and luck in the world, lots of lurve xxxxxxxxxxxx mum and lex
Donation by Alexa Elias on 17/04/12
£40.00
+ £10.00 Gift Aid
Good luck cuz xxx
Donation by Leah Harris on 17/04/12
£10.00
+ £2.50 Gift Aid
I love your PAC story, Leon . . . keep going for us all!
Donation by Maeja on 17/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Good Luck!!!! If you dont finish dont come back ;-0
Donation by Big Teazy akons cousin on 16/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Good luck forest pod!!
Donation by nick murphy on 16/04/12
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Donation summary
- * Online donations£1,104.20
- Offline donations£325.00
- Text donations£0.00
- Total raised£1,429.20
- Gift Aid£247.30
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
