In 1990, my dad Alan decided to give up smoking and run the London Marathon. He was 30 years-old at the time and having brushed aside that particular challenge he kept on running, working his newfound love for the sport into his daily life. 

In 2021, just over 30 years after that first marathon, Dad sadly passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. He had set his sights on getting back to full fitness and completing the Couch to 5k. His passing has left us all devastated - he brought humor, joy and light to the lives of all those who knew him.

When Dad first collapsed, it was volunteers trained in CPR who reached him first. Those volunteers were on foot and in that moment responded quickly and efficiently in order to help a member of the community in need. It is my firmly held belief that the work of such volunteers is hugely important and deserves financial support. The continued work of volunteer organisations in training and equipping people to deal with such situations can help to have a lasting positive impact on our community.

I am going to be running a Half Marathon on 30th November in Dad's memory with hopes of raising money for these medical volunteers. Any donation at all would be hugely appreciated.