My Story

I was not looking for a place in this year's marathon after missing out in the ballot, I was going to look for a ballot / charity place for 2025. BUT... I was at our Eastern Region Minister's Conference last week ... over a meal I caught up with a friend and colleague who I knew had a son with a heart condition, but I didn't realise the serious nature of the condition orthe impact of having a terminally ill child has on parents and siblings every single day.

I remember like it was yesterday Easter 2015 when my youngest daughter was so seriously ill that she came so close to death. She was in hospital for a month and the toll this took on me, her mummy, her siblings, and grandparents etc. was enormous - it took months after discharge to even begin to feel some sort of normality again.

I can't even imagine what it's like to have a child with a terminal diagnosis. All I know is when I was chatting with Mike about the impact of Ellis' illness, I wanted to stand with him; I wanted to show love and support. I wanted to learn more so I could understand and empathise more fully.

In my research of Little Hearts Matter "Half a heart, not half a life" I saw that there was an opportunity to raise money for them by running the London Marathon. A last minute opportunity, but one I felt compelled to take.

So I'm running on the 21st April. Your support in encouraging messages and donations to Little Hearts Matter would be so very much appreciated. I'm late to the training party this year but after the Cambridge half last weekend and a 15 mile run this morning, I'm on track to get to the desired mileage ahead of Marathon day, even if I won't be as fit as I'd like to be.

For me this is an act of love, support, solidarity - and a day I'm sure I will enjoy.

Thanks for reading, I know there are many demands on our finances. Please check out Little Hearts Matter and if you can drop a donation through my link. Thank you. Alan