Raised: 150%
Target: £3,500.00
Raised so far: £5,236.65
Donate now

My story

 

What a day!  Amazing crowds, extraordinary weather, highs and lows, pain and suffering, tears and laughter - and all before lunch.   The first 15 miles or so were great, I thought I could run all day, but after seeing my family (Mimi, Lily, Ned, my sister Claire and her husband Al, superstars) just after mile 15 I entered the dreaded London Docklands stretch, and it all went figuratively downhill (though it felt like it was all uphill).  Still, I had pegged this year as my best chance of beating 4 hours and as the miles went by - increasingly slowly - the margins got smaller and smaller as 8 minute miles turned to 9 to 10 to 11 minute miles.  Coming into the final 1 mile 385 yards (whoever added that 385 yards was a complete sadist) I had 14 minutes left to beat the 4 hours.   As I staggered down Embankment I caught sight of my family for the third time and it was just what I needed, and with the rest of the crowd cheering us on I dragged my weary bones over the longest mile I can remember - and finished under the magic 4 hours (just). 

Official time, 3 hours 57 minutes, 43 seconds, and I can vouch for every second!

Not bad for a fat old man - 10 years since I last ran the London Marathon and a good stone and half heavier, I beat my younger self by 8 minutes.  And this time I wasn't involved in a sprint finish with a man dressed as a clown (who beat me by a large red nose).  I did see the marathon Masai warriors, the basketball bouncing guy, two Banana men, a Batman, a Superwoman, sundry faeries, devils and someone dressed as a McCain Oven Chip (no-one was cheering them).  I also remembered to put my name on my shirt this time so lots of cheers for 'Paul' rather than 'Mental'.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored me and sent texts, e-mails and other messages of support.  Its not too late to sponsor me if you would like - the £5,000 mark is getting tantalising close.

The Mental Health Foundation works for some of the most vulnerable and stigmatised members of society.  But the chances are that you, or someone you know, will have experienced serious mental distress at some stage in life:

- 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year

- 10% of children will have a mental health problem at any one time

- Depression affects 20% of elderly people in the community and 40% in care homes

- 90% of prisoners suffer from at least one form of mental disorder

My own interest in this area is as much professional as personal - I've just published a book on the new Mental Health Act 2007 - but you don't have to got that far: just sponsor me!

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

Many thanks for your support.

Congratulations - well done Donation by Meryll 07/05/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Great work, fella. You put us all to shame. Donation by Dods & Sianie 27/04/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Congratulations - very, very impressive!! Donation by emma smallwood 16/04/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

You are brilliant. But then, I always knew that. Love ever, your Mim x Donation by Mimi 16/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

You're too fit for your own good! Donation by KrisGledhill 15/04/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Awesome achievement: I salute you! Donation by Wilf M-B 14/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

That's a great time. Well done. Donation by Bizza 14/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

25 pence per second under 4 hrs - you earned it! Well done. Donation by F Murphy 14/04/08  

£34.25 + £9.66 Gift Aid

well done Paul Donation by Francis FitzGibbon 14/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Better late than never. Congratulations - hope you are recovering well! Donation by Bramil Associates 14/04/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

sorry I left this until after you ran- hope you are resting your feet today ! Dead impressed with whatever time and distance you ran Donation by Pauline Thompson 14/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Adam and Steph 13/04/08  

£20.00

I am so impressed! And for such a great cause - hope it goes well Donation by Kathryn Pugh 13/04/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Glad to see you're already beating your target - maybe you need another one?? Good luck, if you need to recover in fresh Swiss air... Donation by Tonia & Mick 13/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

What a feet (errr, feat, I mean) Pound those pavements, go! go! go! Donation by Mary P 13/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Enjoy, lead from the front Donation by john 12/04/08  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Just do it! Donation by Jill and David Wright 12/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Serious training has surely put in in a good ;position to survive all the way! Donation by Bharati and Richard Charlton 12/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best of luck! Donation by John Horne 11/04/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by David W 11/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best of luck ... Donation by Angus McCullough 11/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

good luck Donation by Steve Kn 11/04/08  

£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid

Hope you get £5000! Donation by John Ford 11/04/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Go on... Mental! We love you so xx Donation by SnOz 11/04/08  

£75.00 + £21.15 Gift Aid

rather you than me - good luck - dont try and do it in heels Donation by Camilla M 11/04/08  

£260.00 + £73.33 Gift Aid

am hugely impressed. Good luck ! Donation by Tim Owen 11/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

We are right behind you (but sitting down) XXX Donation by JEM & MISCHA 11/04/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Best of luck Donation by Anthony H 11/04/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

best of luck - and watch that chafing! xx Donation by Paddy 10/04/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

...see you're still as mad as ever! Good luck S.x Donation by Suki Binjal 10/04/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £4,811.65
  Offline donations: £425.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £1,251.36

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.