Hi my name is Lee Aherne and i`m raising money to help erect a statue of marathon legend Steve Jones.

Next April (2019) to raise national awareness and obviously more money i plan to run the London marathon and a week later the Newport marathon. Steve winning London and running for Newport Harriers makes it a perfect combination and i`m hoping to be the first over 50 year old in both races. Only time will tell if that`s possible.

***************RESULTS***************
*LONDON 3rd over50 .. 2hr 38mins*
*NEWPORT 1st over50 .. 2hrs 46mins*
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After holding the British marathon record from October 1984 until April 2018 (33 years and 6 months) Steve Jones is still virtually unknown in Ebbw Vale and Blaenau Gwent the place where Steve lived for 40 years. Steve in 1984 shook up the World by winning the Chicago marathon while still serving in the RAF by beating the Olympic and World champions and breaking the World record. A year later Steve won the London marathon and again the Chicago marathon and in 1988 added the New York marathon to his list of big city marathon wins. Steve during his career also held the World half marathon record as well as competing at the World, European, Commonwealth and Olympic games.

Over the years i have tried to get Blaenau Gwent council to honour Steve and tried to get the council to name the newly built leisure centre named after him and even a national honour. Both fell on deaf ears or ignored. Well now i plan to raise money to get a statue built to be placed in his home town of Ebbw Vale. What type of statue depends on the money raised because there are a few different types that can be purchased. They can range from £2,000 to £40,000.

£2500 has already been raised and now sitting in an ISA account but obviously still loads more work to do.

Steve is a bonafide athletic legend still regarded by most as one of the greatest marathon runner to ever grace the sport.