***UPDATE*** September 2022

Having deferred my place following the cancellation of the April 2020 Marathon due to the Covid 19 lockdowns my training yet again grounded to a halt due to having to shield, who knew at my age I would be grounded! I have undergone several medical appointments with a specialist in Bristol and had my bloods sent away to a specialist in London to find out why I keep contracting Meningitis these appointments make me more determined than even to succeed in my mission to complete the 2022 Marathon this October. I'm now three years older than when I originally planned to run this marathon and I have to admit my body is struggling with the training but raising money for the Meningitis Research Foundation is my main goal.

***UPDATE*** March 2020

Little did I realise that when I signed up in May 2019 to run the London Marathon on behalf of the Meningitis Research Foundation that I would no less than four months later be struck down with viral meningitis for the third time. Sending me not only back to square one with training but yet again having to rebuild my life. Knowing what a battle it is to overcome this illness it makes me more determined than ever to complete the London Marathon.

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I am running the London Marathon 2020 in aid of Meningitis Research Foundation because I want to help them achieve their goal of defeating meningitis and septicaemia wherever they exist.

Having been hospitalised twice in my adult life with viral meningitis this is a charity close to my heart. I would say I was lucky to only have experienced the viral form of meningitis but I know I live in daily fear of it returning. 

I was first hospitalised in 2011 at the age of 30, I was an active fit and healthy man and within days I was knocked off my feet and unable to support or provide for my family, my youngest at the time was only nine months old. Little did I realise that less than three years later I would once again be hospitalised with viral meningitis. Having a 3 & 6 year old visiting their Daddy daily in hospital is a scary experience and five years on Great Western Hospital, Swindon is still called "Daddy's Hospital" every time we drive past.

Running has never really been my thing but having retired from football due to injury I needed to find something that I could challenge my competitive energy into, in 2017 I took part in my first half marathon and on crossing the finish line I uttered the words "never again" yet here I am being offered a place to run for the Meningitis Research Foundation five years to the day of my last hospitalisation - fate has a lot to answer for.

Please, please, please can you help me to reach my target and give this charity the vital funds they need.