On Wednesday 2nd October I will achieve 40 years working for the RBS/NatWest Group! I have been very fortunate through my career with the group (so far!) working in a number of different roles with lots of great people. I wanted to mark the milestone with a challenge so that I can hopefully give something to others.

The challenge I have set myself is to run 5k a day for 40 consecutive days - one day for every year in the Bank. I will be starting on Wednesday 2nd October (the day I joined the Bank in 1984!) and if I make it through, my last run will be on Sunday 10th November. I am planning to run at some different locations based around some of the places across the UK that I have worked over the years with a hope and an open invitation, that family/friends/colleagues may join me for some of the runs.

The main inspiration for my challenge is Kevin Webber, an RBS colleague of mine who was diagnosed with effectively terminal and inoperable Prostate Cancer in 2014 and given as short as 2 years to live. How Kevin responded to that diagnosis, his whole attitude to life and what he has achieved since is truly remarkable - please do take some time to read his story (makethemostofit.org). I am pleased to say that on 5th November Kevin will achieve his own amazing milestone of 10 years since that prognosis. True to form, Kevin will be marking his anniversary with another endurance run and I am planning to join him (for my 5k) to support him on that day, which will be amazing.

For this reason, I will be running in aid of Prostate Cancer UK but will also have in mind all who have been affected by cancer in one way or another thinking particularly of my own family and close colleagues. My hope is that whatever I raise can help to make some difference.

I have been back running at my twice weekly gym session and the odd Park Run but 5k a day for 40 days straight will be a big challenge for me! I am looking forward to the running music as my playlist will be the top hits from each year through the 40 years starting with 'Top Hits from 1984' (Culture Club, Duran Duran, U2, etc.) on 2nd October!

Thank you in advance for whatever you can give.

See provisional list of run dates & locations below - if you would like to join me on any of the runs please send me an email (via work email if you have it or on simonduck66@gmail.com) or call/text to 07796 356460.