Peter is going to run the Dymock Half Marathon on 26 May 2024 in order to attract funds towards our vision of a Community Shop, Post Office and Café in Much Marcle, acting as a much needed community hub (www.muchmarcleshop.org). We are organised as a community benefit society with to date 248 shareholders as members of the society. The community shop will be run by a shop manager and volunteers. It will offer all the essentials and a wide variety of quality, locally produced goods. The shop and post office will help to avoid a 11miles round trip to the current nearest shops and post office. Apart from such important environmental benefits, the café with tasty snacks and cakes will create an attractive social and information gathering point for residents, parents and children of the Much Marcle Primary School and visitors to the area. It will encourage people to do a daily walk and therefore contribute to physical and mental well-being. We have raised over £91K through the share offer, and we have been busy organising a wide range of successful fundraising events, but lots more is needed in order to turn the vision in reality. Peter hopes to make a contribution towards our fundraising, by running the Dymock Half Marathon for a second time (See photo from last year). It is a race along quiet lanes in beautiful countryside along the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border. The organisers describe it “as hilly/undulating”, so definitely not a race for one’s personal best. Peter will still try his best and enjoy the race, hoping to be supported by lots of people who want to share the vision of Much Marcle Community Shop, Post Office and Café and give him that all important monetary push to get over the line.

Peter, incidentally the oldest runner in the field, completed the Dymock Half Marathon successfully on Sunday, 26 May 2024.