I run, I run a lot...... in fact I actually enjoy running!!

In 2015 I bumped into Matthew Gaut whilst running on the North Downs Way. We got chatting and before he knew it he had volunteered to help me train for a series of 100 mile races.

Matt also likes to run and was thinking of running a hundred mile race himself one day. As the months passed we would meet up for 20 or 30 mile runs and then it happened, he had entered the Thames Path 100 to be held in May 2016. We cranked up the mileage and even drove for hours so that Matt could train on the race route.

Then one day  Matt dropped a bomb shell... Harry, his 6 year old little boy had developed a second kind of leukemia!! and he would have to stop running as Harry would need his Dad around.

As the months went passed Harry spent long periods of time in the Royal Marsden Children's Hospital, bravely undergoing treatment.

Although Matt couldn't race, I could and when the going got tough I would only have to think of the fight that Harry was having, to know that my race was easy in comparison.

On 17th September 2016 I ran a 50 mile race that Matt had entered but was unable to run. I knew that I was running for Harry and that I would be giving him my medal (he likes medals). It was a tough race but I pushed to the finish thinking of him. At the finish line, the race director gave me a second medal for Harry's brother Oliver and on the way home I dropped them through Matt's front door.

Just four days later I got a message from Matt that knocked me sideways, it read: "I'm so proud to have you as my friend. Harry's at peace now xxx,  but he did get his medal ;(  "

I never actually met Harry but I know he was loved and will be missed so much by everyone that had been part of his short but happy life.

In January 2017 I traveled to Hawaii to run the HURT100 in Harry’s memory and aimed to raise £5,000. Unfortunately I had to pull out of the race after only completing 67 miles and only raising £2,637.42......

This coming January (2019) I’m returning to Hawaii to finish what I started by finishing the full 100 miles and raise the reminding £2,362.58.

If you are able to sponsor me to run the HURT 100 miler by making a donation, I would be so grateful.

Thanks you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Paul x

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 the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.