My name is Bruce and I am excited and honoured to be chosen to run this year’s London Marathon 2021 for the Havering Volunteer Centre (HVC) putting them on the map!

HVC have stepped up the past 18 months to deliver emergency support to thousands of residents, gp's pharmacies throughout our tightest and toughest lockdown and then supported the NHS with hundreds of volunteers for the two vaccination sites at Hornchurch Library and Raphael's House. 

Havering Volunteer Centre is a local charity and is a vital hub for the community, working alongside and providing volunteers for over 300 well-known local and national organisations to support frontline services, including organisations such as hospitals, hospices, charities, libraries and children’s services.

In fact, HVC is close to my heart which is why I have volunteered to run the marathon on their behalf.

Having recently ended a full time career due to Mental Health issues I found myself at a loose end and needing to do something. I met with one of HVC’s professional and experienced advisors and they encouraged and supported me to find a volunteer position. My journey started with HVC and volunteering has helped give me back structure, purpose and self-confidence (as well as my fantastic running club H90 Joggers!) and I haven’t looked back!

HVC have met with thousands of individuals over the past 4 years with many embarking on a volunteering journey for a whole host of reasons. Some like me, who have their direction in life altered and need to find structure and confidence, others on a journey of employment and are looking to reskill, students looking for support with educational pathways and those undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Indeed, anyone of any age and ability interested in volunteering will be supported into various roles by HVC, no one is ever turned away.

Finally, on a personal level , I lost both my parents in the last twelve months, it will be a fitting tribute from me to them, to achieve this lifetime goal of running the world’s most iconic race, especially as my dad was an avid runner!

I am running the marathon for all the volunteers in Havering and raising money for a thoroughly good cause, please help me in my fundraising aims, let’s support Havering Volunteer Centre to keep up the fantastic work by giving a donation today!