Meet Tom. A close friend, with who I've been running marathons since 2001.

Tom runs marathons every year, mainly London, the Great North Run, and Edinburgh. Tom and I don’t run together, but we’ve always ensured we see each other after the event to say well done, and usually, a well-deserved ‘cheers!’ His dedication and passion for running are unique.  

Tom is on the Autistic Spectrum. His two biggest passions are railways and marathon running, and above all, raising money for good causes. When Tom has an event in the diary, it must happen. Why wouldn’t it! Why would a capital city cancel a marathon?  

In 2020 when the news said that the London Marathon was postponed, then Edinburgh, then the Great North Run, we all kept encouraging Tom, saying that this would allow him extra time to train and prepare. September arrived and as you’ve already guessed, all the races were postponed again, ‘until further notice.’ When Tom finished the Edinburgh Marathon 2019, his first promise over dinner was that he’d raise money for CrossReach in 2020. He’s never forgotten that.  

Bring on the Edinburgh Marathon, 2021! Tom and I are going to do the exact routine we do for every marathon:

Saturday, 25^th September: AM Tom arrives by Train from London; PM Tom and John (Tom’s dad) join us at home for a pre-marathon pasta supper 

Sunday, 26^th September: AM Tom, John and I meet at the starting line (we are going to run the exact route!), and this time I’m running with Tom the whole way; PM Order a curry takeaway, and Tom has already promised that he will bring the champagne! 

Who we are supporting: CrossReach helps over 1,000 people each year through counselling programmes that are free to those who need it. Your donations help to ensure that they can continue to offer this service in locations across Scotland. Thank you!