Running the London Marathon - all 26.2miles of it!

Aim

I'm raising money for two incredible charities The Royal Papworth Hospital and Haven House Children's Hospice.

18 years ago, an incredibly special person in our family, my godfather Mario, underwent a life-saving operation. At just 16 years old he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a heart disease which led him to having a pacemaker at just 22, and which ultimately would cause his heart to fail. Mario needed a transplant or else he would die. Mario was just 34 years old at the time and had a five-month-old baby. 

 After three donor calls, his heart transplant operation was undertaken at The Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. So, on Sunday 2 October I will be running the London Marathon to raise money for this incredible hospital that gave Mario another shot at life, enabling him to go on to be married to his lovely wife Amanda and to have three children, Oliver, Dominic and Elliot. 

I cannot express the admiration, gratitude and debt we owe to Royal Papworth Hospital. The money I raise will hopefully in a small way help other families who find themselves in such a dark place. Our love for the donor who gave Mario a new heart will always be precious to us as a family, as will the incredible Royal Papworth Hospital transplant team that undertook such an exceptional operation that saved Mario’s life. To give you an idea of the magnitude of this operation Mario’s surgeon once said: “Imagine having your hair cut and trying to piece each strand on the floor back together...”

For those of you who know Mario, you will know how genuine he is and how he makes us all laugh and smile with his dry sense of humour. When he awoke from his heart operation, he pretended to have a Scottish accent – for a few minutes he had us all fooled! Mario has always had a never quit attitude and I know his strength, resilience and determination will spur me on to that finish line.

The other charity I will be running for is Haven House Children's Hospice. Many will know that my wife Paola has worked in the hospice sector for 12 years and as a family we have been touched by the vital care and love that hospices provide. Haven House is extraordinary, providing support to families who are facing the unimaginable. Paola has had the privilege of working alongside so many inspiring children and families, each holding a special place in her heart. Fundraising is essential to Haven House and any funds raised will go towards the lifeline services it provides such as respite care, hospice at home, music therapy, physiotherapy, yoga, end of life care and bereavement support. The hospice is there from the time a devastating diagnosis is made to help families have choice, quality of life and to make the most of the precious time they have together. 

Marathon training you may think has been easier for me with years of fitness and exercise behind me, however running in extreme heat this summer and along the mountain roads of Italy has been quite the test. Plus packing it all in with other life's commitments has been challenging. You cannot underestimate the mental strength it has taken to complete the mileage. 

From the bottom of my heart (excuse the pun) thank you! Thank you for supporting me on my marathon journey and for making a difference to these two amazing charities that change people's lives. 

In the great words of the late Queen Elizabeth II: “Never give up, never despair, when life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat. Instead, they are all the more determined…” 

This project successfully funded on 13th October 2022