Thanks for visiting my Just Giving Page.

Having raised an amazing £4,700 for the British Heart Foundation and having thoroughly enjoyed the experience of training for and participating in the 2025 London Marathon last year, I have decided to take on a bigger challenge in 2026 with the aim of raising funds for not one but two amazing charities.

Across a year long programme of sporting challenges I'll be raising money for British Heart Foundation and The Grand Appeal. My rationale for raising for the BHF may well be known to many, but I'll recap in a moment.

Last year in my fundraising story I talked about my BHF motivation being to support the 2 strongest and most courageous people I know. The truth is there is a 3rd person, and until now we'd chosen not to talk publicly about it but with her support I will be raising money motivated by the strength and positivity shown by our eldest daughter Georgia.

Georgia has been under the care of a team of consultants, and receiving treatment at Bristol Children's Hospital for the past 4 years. The hospital's charity 'The Grand Appeal' has a huge impact on the experience of being treated at the hospital - from the lifts voiced by Wallace, support workers offering comfort and advice, play activities and pioneering equipment and research saving the lives of many. As well as a place to stay for families. I'd love to help and give back to The Grand Appeal for everything they have done and will continue to do until Georgia turns 16 (which is terrifyingly close!!).

British Heart Foundation has been and will always be a charity close to my heart. Supporting my best friend Dave from his first operation at days old through to his most recent operation within the last couple of years. As a child I didn't know too much about the seriousness of Dave's condition or the risks of each operation he had, but as we got older the knowledge hit home, and the gratitude for having the opportunity to share each others lives sunk in. We mark 40 years of friendship this year, and truth be told many of those years have been given to us by unbelievable enhancements in medical technology and treatment - much of which was progressed through the work of British Heart Foundation.

And finally my amazing Mum, who has battled Leukaemia, only to develop Heart failure from the treatment. Given 48hours back in 2023 and sent home to see the dogs and her garden in her final moments, her personal strength supported by the research in medication and treatment, means we still have her here with us, invested in making memories and grateful for every moment we have together.

I hope you can see how personal this fundraising ambition is, but I'm not one for just asking for support, I feel I need to go someway to sacrifice, show strength and challenge myself as so many people benefiting from the charities are challenged too.

With that in mind I've developed Alex's Year Long Charity Challenge. This challenge starting with the Weston Super Mare 1/2 marathon on 19th October 2025 will see me;

1. Aiming to run London Marathon in 2026 faster than last year (<3:43) and paying a significant financial penalty as a personal donation for every minute over 3hours 30 minutes. ✅

2. Running an ultra run of 35+miles

3. Cycling more than 200 miles in one day

4. Swimming 2+miles in one go

5. And probably the toughtest challenge….giving up beer for 6months from 26th October to 26th April (marathon day) ✅

I expect this challenge to involve c1000 miles of running training, 2,000 miles of cycling training and loads of swimming or a blagged swim (where i hopefully float - I truly hate swimming having not learnt until the wrong side of Childhood and have some serious work to do)

I'd be so grateful for any support you can offer, in financial support and/or so company along the way in any of my training.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. At the end of my fundraising activities the funds will be split 50:50 between the two charities.