I am running the New York and London Marathons for the Meningitis Research Foundation in memory of Douglas Stump, a close school friend and fellow junior international hockey player, who passed away on St George's Day in 1995 - 4 days after the photo (left) was taken - aged just 17.

As I have now finished playing hockey full-time I am able to fulfil the promise I made 11 years ago to complete this challenge and raise money for research into a disease which, even after all this time, can still kill in hours. Even people who recover may be left with permanent disabilities or a range of after effects that dramatically alter their lives.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Meningitis Research Foundation 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.

Please dig deep and help me to raise this much needed money in the fight against Meningitis.

Many thanks for all your kind support.

Mark

2 Marathons – 52.4 Miles – 1 Donation!

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London 2007  (22/04/07) - 3:56.59

Well it's all done and dusted and I managed to finish the 26.2 miles in 3:56.59!  It was especially pleasing to get under 4 hours considering the temperature was around 25 degrees.  Thank you all so much for your kind donations and messages of support  and I think we will get to £10k soon.

2 weeks to go:

Well I've managed to fit in 3 x 15.5 mile runs this week so feel a little bit more confident about getting round the distance on the 22nd April.

Hopefully I will have a time to report back to everyone in a fortnight.

1 month to go: (26/3/07)

NY seems a very very long time  ago and the thought of running another 26.2 miles is not exactly an appealing one.  Unfortunately I've not had any time to focus on the  required long distance training, like I managed pre-NY, so the aim has changed completely from setting any personal records to just getting round!!

Thank you to everyone who continues to sponsor me and for supporting the second stage of this challenge.

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NY 2006 (5/11/06) - 3:48.35

Well it's one down and one to go as I managed to finish the 26.2 miles in 3:48.35!  Thank you all so much for your kind donations and messages of support which I can promise you really helped me through the training and during those last 3 miles.  Roll on London 2007............

1 month to go:

It's not much fun playing 70 min of hockey the day after a 17 mile run but I am nearly there with just a couple of long runs to go. I am organising a sweep stake on my time  at £5 a go in a bid to raise that bit extra so contact me if you would like to have a guess as every £ helps the cause.  Thank you for all your support and I will hopefully be able to report back with my NY time in November.

2 months to go:

Just to say I am now up to 15 miles and have even overtaken Sonia O'Sullivan whilst on a run in Richmond Park..........  however she was going in the opposite direction!

3 months to go:

The past month feels like a return to full-time training with; Threshold Runs, Kenyan Hills and a weekly Long Run.  I have managed to run further than ever before with 10.5, 11.4 and 13.3 miles in the past 3 weeks, but the thought of doing this twice in a row still seems a little way off.

4 months to go:

Well the World Cup is finally over and I don't have any excuses left to not go running in Richmond Park!  The real training starts now with a 16 week programme that I am placing my faith in to get me round the distance safely.

5 months to go:

After just one month since I started sending out the details of the 2 Marathons there has been £2,000 donated or pledged already which is amazing and is giving me a fantastic boost for the training so many thanks.

6 months to go:

Well the New York Marathon race entry fee has been paid and this page is now online so no turning back now! I am already feeling a little nervous and apprehensive but having watched my dad run the London Marathon twice - also in aid of Meningitis - I am looking forward to the two big days, just not the training beforehand.