Hi there! Thank you for visiting my RunReigate page. I am running in support of East Surrey Samaritans, one of 200 branches in the UK and Ireland. The branch is independently-funded, so your contribution is critical to helping our volunteers support callers day and night. In fact every £10 we raise with your help can help us take around 8 calls, so you could literally help us change, or even save, a life. Thank You!

I have been a runner for many years, initially to keep fit for playing hockey, but it has become much more important to me over time. I run for many reasons, but the primary one is my own well-being. I ran my first half-marathon in 1988 (Wimbledon) and my first marathon in 2000 (Stockholm). I think that was also when I first ran for charity and raised several thousand pounds, as I was working with many well-off (but also very generous) city bank workers. It is very rewarding to know that your effort is benefiting a worthy cause, though it never actually seems to make me run faster ☹

The RunReigate Half-Marathon is one of my favourite races – I have completed it every year (except during the pandemic when it went virtual) and am very keen to keep that record going as long as possible – I am 59 so hoping for many more of them. I am hoping that I still have one or two more marathons in me too - one of my inspirations is an uncle who ran his last marathon at the age of 71. He is now in his late eighties and his knees prevent him running but he remains enormously encouraging of other runners including me.

RunReigate is my local race, and East Surrey Samaritans is the local branch of the charity that I volunteer for. I have been a listening volunteer for about 7 years now, manning the phones to talk to those who are suicidal, in emotional difficulty, or just need someone to offload to. It is immensely rewarding and I would encourage anyone to take a volunteering role (at Samaritans, or elsewhere).

I have now raised money for East Surrey Samaritans on a number of occasions at RunReigate - it is always a very well organised event and the atmosphere there is terrific. I like that there are usually many people I know also running the race, including many that I know from Reigate Priory AC (the club that I joined about 3 years ago) from Reigate Priory Parkrun. While I am here, a quick plug for Reigate Priory parkrun … whether you are a walker, a runner or want to volunteer you will get a wonderfully warm welcome (once we are back, which should be soon). Look out for us in Priory Park, Reigate at 9am on Saturday mornings.

Thanks for visiting the page. And thanks for any contribution you are able to make.