So me and my dad (Martin) have made a huge decision and decided to run the Bristol half marathon on Sunday 23rd September 2018. For people that know us will know my dad (aged 58) has run a lot of marathons in his time including half marathons and numerous London marathons but that was a while ago now. For me this is a massive thing; as straight forward as possible I’m 130kg of pure non runner. I have played rugby all my life but in September 2017 I suffered a dislocated knee cap and snapped my ACL so had to undergo reconstructive surgery in November 2017; so this is a huge challenge for me which I will make sure I get to the finish line even if I have to and I’m sure there is a high possibility of it being needed .... dragging myself around Bristol for 13 miles.

We have decided to try and raise money and run for the charity ‘Fathers 4 Justice’. Although it is no secret we don’t do a load of fundraising kind of things this is an organisation which is very close to our hearts.

In October 2017 my wife decided to leave me through no fault of my own and prevent me having a relationship with our son FREDDIE. Which in place prevented me even seeing my son for 2 months because all family organisations air on the side of caution but this is only one sided... against the fathers. From this happening it drove myself and my family to go down the family court route to gain access and to rekindle a much needed and wanted relationship with my son Freddie, but this was far from easy with the whole system (and I will say it) being against Fathers and it not being made easy for us at all and as a father that has had to go through it I can honestly say I can to a certain extent understand why so many Dads give up seeing their children because it is made almost impossible; I am not one of them. After a very very costly and long process I have got contact with my son and with a view for it to only increase over time. My view is that all precautions were taken ‘just in case’ against myself on the merit of lies made up about me and this as a result prevented me seeing my son and then allowed me to see him but for only a limited time and my family not being able to see him for over 8 months; even though there was no reason for this at all.

After reaching out to counsellors and organisations such as Fathers 4 Justice to help me through such a rough time including missing his 1st birthday, Christmas and many more milestones I can finally see some sort of light although very small at the end of the tunnel. Currently I see my son once a week on a Wednesday in Cornwall where he now lives with his Mother because I have been told i have to ‘build my bond‘ back with my own son because he went a while without seeing me and although a lot of people have asked me why I bother? Why would I put myself through all that financial, mental and emotional stress? Well it is easy he is my son, I won’t give up on him ever and none of this is his fault so why should he not see his Dad.

We are asking for you to dig deep and be generous towards such a worthy cause as like I have said this is massive for both myself and my dad to do this marathon and I can honestly say I have never ran anywhere near 13 miles !!!

If you want to read more into how Fathers 4 Justice was formed and how they go about supporting fathers please head over to their website: www.fathers-4-justice.org

We don’t mind what amount of money we raise and anything is better than nothing but as they support so many people we would like to support them just something; also it would be nice to get something from running the marathon other than a sense of achievement from doing it for Freddie and what I’m sure will be a horrendous stitch for 13 miles..