In January, the National President of Rotary International in Great

Britain, Eve Conway asked for a volunteer Rotarian to take part in the London
Marathon on behalf of the charity Best Beginnings which is part of the Heads
Together group of charities supported by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and
Prince Harry. As it was very early in the morning and before I was fully awake
I volunteered to represent Rotary. I am a member of Shrewsbury Darwin Rotary
Club which is part of Rotary District 1210 which is also supporting my
challenge. 

I am pleased to be able to support Heads Together which is
dedicated to supporting those who have mental health difficulties. I had to
take early retirement in 2009 following my own mental health difficulties and
found the most positive support came through the help of others and through exercise.
Since then I have participated in a number of events including long-distance
triathlons but I had never thought that I would have the opportunity to take
part in the London Marathon - as anyone who has seen me pounding the pavements
will tell you I am not a runner!!

I am also particularly pleased to be supporting Best Beginnings as
my work with children and young people with special needs and disabilities has
made me very aware of the need to give all children the best possible start in
life and this includes supporting parents as well. The charity provides an
outstanding range of resources for parents, professionals and all those
supporting the early years. Mental illness impacts on a large proportion of new
parents and Best Beginnings provides real support including the free Baby Buddy
app.

Although I am not a user of social media, you can follow me on
Strava where I am the founder (and as yet only member) of the 60/200 club which
is for us old folk who are carrying excess baggage! I am also completing a
regular blog which can be found at slowdistancerunner.uk

Prior to getting a place in the London Marathon my niece Gemma and
I had entered the London to Brighton Challenge which is taking place at the end
of May. This is a 100k run/walk and will be a distance record for both of us.
We are hoping to complete within a 20 hour time period.

I have also been successful in gaining a place in the Prudential
Ride London event which is taking place at the end of July 2017. As a result I
have decided to keep fundraising until the beginning of September by which time
I hope to have completed the "Treble".

I hope that you are able to support me and the charity as best you
can and in return I promise to try and enjoy my unexpected chance to
participate in this great event. Besides it will be fun for you to see me
suffer!!

Keep plodding!

Thank you

Alistair

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