Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I'm running the full ABP Southampton Marathon on May 5th having never run properly since school. For this marathon I am fundraising for two charities. This is one of my pages.

As part of my reason for running, my stepfather (in all but name), Jackie Leven, was a huge influence in my life as my dad was often on postings away for months on end with the Navy.

Although my stepfather had his own son and I had my own father - so we never called each other those names - He helped shape and influence a lot of my creativity and love for music.

He had a very interesting rock and roll life, with some genuine stories that would astound some people, and part of this involved one night deciding to walk home instead of taking a taxi with his band mates.

Unfortunately, that night he was jumped whilst he was walking on the street and strangled so severely that he lost his contract with Sony EMI Records.

A very long and sad story follows where having lost everything he turned to heavy drinking and also taking drugs like heroine and cocaine.

Fast forward a few years later, and he decided that he has had enough of being an addict, and wants to cure himself - which he does with a mix of ancient eastern and modern western techniques - He then goes on to have an even more interesting life, and set up a charity - then known as The CORE Trust - to help others with similar alcoholic and drug related problems.

Since then, the CORE Trust has become part of the Westminster Drug Project - helping people of all ages with alcohol, drug and other mental health issues.

It is in memory of Jackie, as well as wanting to support such an important cause, that I have selected this as one of my charities I would like to raise money for when I run.

Any money you can donate to either of these causes would be sincerely appreciated.

For more information on The Core Trust see: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/clean-in-body-and-soul-1181951.html 

For information on WDP please visit: https://www.wdp.org.uk/

For the obituary/biography of Jackie Leven see: https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/jun/16/cult-heroes-jackie-leven-singer-songwriter-doll-by-doll

Kind regards,

James