If any of you are having trouble recognizing me in the photo I’ve posted I’m the larger chap wearing the South Park T-shirt and a cracking hat. The blond guy to the left of me as you look at the photo is my friend Lewis Beckwith, he’s the man who’s motivated me to run the New York Marathon.

Lewis passed away last September after being diagnosed with bowel cancer just a few months prior. Lewis was a fantastic bloke, an excellent friend, very funny, very clever, and possessed an amazing ability to make or repair pretty much anything using only a Letherman. He was one of those rare characters you knew you could always depend on, for these and many other reasons that I won’t go into here it’s no exaggeration to say that he was something of an inspirational figure to me when he was alive, it is fitting therefore that he’s managed to inspire me to do something previously unthinkable now that he’s gone.

I first started running back in June of 2008 just as a way to try and get bit of regular exercise, anyone who has known me for any length of time will know that this is in itself, pretty remarkable. I went to see Lewis a couple of times while he was in hospital and told him that I had started running, he was pleased and impressed...and surprised. After he died, it made sense to me to try and take my running a step further, to do something, however small to help fight the horrible illness that had taken a young and seemingly so healthy mate away, and something that I know would have really pleased Lewis. He was extremely active, very strong, and could have happily run a marathon before heading off for a full day’s work, it used to knacker me out just talking to him sometimes.

Any donation you make is very gratefully received both by me and Bowel Cancer UK. I have characteristically left creating this page a little late, I have exactly two months to go (created on the 1^st September) to try and reach the charity's target of £1500 but that’s still two pay-days at least for you all to find some cash so no excuses. I’ll try and get a photo of my very red face posted on my page when I cross the line by way of repayment. I don’t have a firm target time in mind and will be happy just to finish, however I will finish and if I can get closer to 4.5hrs than 5.5hrs I’ll be happy.

Thanks again.

Rob

 

 

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