Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I completed the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, but, the page is to cover ALL 11 runs for this year (2025), for Alzheimer's Society.
I've taken part in all of the 11 runs now, since February 2025, finishing in November 2025.
These are the events that I took part in:
The Winter Run, London (23rd Feb - Completed)
Nottingham 10k (9th March - Completed) For this one, I was a pacer once again for this event, as part of my running club (Long Eaton Running Club) I was pacing alongside a great friend and my training partner: Elliot, at the event, which was his first time! We were the 55 mins pacers and we came in at: 55mins 09secs and 55mins 10secs!
Derby(shire)10k, Derby (6th April - Completed)
Great Run, Birmingham (4th May - Completed but took part virtually / locally)
Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (11th May - Completed) which was my very first full marathon event! I completed it!
Derbion Ramathon, Derby (29th June - Completed) For this one, I was a pacer once again for this event, as part of my running club (Long Eaton Running Club) I was pacing alongside my best pal / training partner: Elliot, at the event, which was his second time at pacing an event! We were the 45 mins pacers and we came in at: 45mins 02secs!
Great North Run, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (7th September - Completed)
Robin Hood Half Marathon, Nottingham (28th September - Completed)
Altra Run For All Yorkshire Marathon, Yorkshire (19th October - this is an extra one! - Completed) I achieved a new PB too! Taking 25 mins off of my first marathon from May!!!! May: 4hrs 26mins, October: 4hrs 1mins!
Halloween Half Marathon, Worksop (26th October - Completed)
Derby 10 Mile, Derby, (16th November - Completed)
Thank you to all that have sponsored me for the last few years (2024 &2025) it has been greatly appreciated. 2024 was also one of the best years I have had ever with my fundraising. Looking forward now to 2026 and see what that holds.
The support I've had, from friends, members of my running club (Long Eaton Running Club) many presenters from BBC Radio Nottingham as well, was very much welcomed and appreciated.
In 2024 though, one of the highlights and major things for me, upon the journey of the 8 runs, was that I gained a great friend, who is also brilliant running / training partner, that someone that gave me that spark back, to get my fitness levels back to where I was in 2012.
We took part in some of the runs together in 2024 and the majority of the 11 in 2025, which has been great! but, from the start of 2024, when we started to run / train together, within this time, a brilliant friendship was formed, to where they are pretty much family to me, well, pretty much like a younger brother to me (I'm the youngest of 4 and always wanted a younger brother) and that means a lot to me.
So, Elliot Martin, thank you again for last year, the support and everything, it's been greatly appreciated. Here's to the many more miles we have yet to cover this year in 2026 :) I cannot thank you enough.
Another highlight for me, was being interviewed live on BBC One during the coverage of the Great North Run in 2024! :) That was brilliant! You can view it here:
In October 2025, thanks to the organisers of the Robin Hood Half Marathon and those that had nominated me, I won the Inspiring Runner Of The Year accolade! That is out of many many thousands of people! That is a massive achievement in itself!
In 2020, after I was made redundant, I took upon the role of being my Father’s main carer until February 2022 before he had to go into a care home due to his condition worsening. Watching his condition deteriorate pretty much each day though hits hard. He can have days and bad days where sometimes, he may not recognise me when I visit him, but other days, he will and say my name a few times, with a smile upon his face. Unfortunately though now, he is pretty much confined to a wheelchair due to his inability to walk much now.
In 2025 I took part in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon as my first marathon and many other events, for my Father, Collin, for my Mother, Veronica, and in memory of my Aunt - Ann Sutton (who sadly passed away in 2025) and in memory also of another of my best friends Father's (who used to play for Newcastle United): John Tudor who sadly passed away in Feb 2025 from Alzheimer's & Vascular Dementia.
I honestly wish there was a cure for Alzheimer's / Dementia though. That is why, this time round, I have been raising funds for solely Alzheimer's Society this year. You can donate via my JustGiving page. Any amount is welcome.
At Alzheimer’s Society we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
We do this by giving help to those living with dementia today, and providing hope for the future.