Iain Clayton
GIGS - Graham, Iain, Graham, Sue & Carolyn's Page
Fundraising for Mental Health Foundation
Story
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The good news is that the LEES team successfully completed the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 25th April with admirable performances all round and terrific stories of the day. The five LEES runners were split from the beginning, with Graham Bainger & Carolyn Burrage in the Blue Start and the others at the opposite end of in the Red Start. Graham: “Just before the run was due to start, there was a heavy downpour and many people rushed for cover, but the rain eased and we managed to get off to a good start. However, once the temperature began to rise, so did the humidity and the conditions were proving quite challenging”. Graham, who is LEES most experienced marathon runner, had looked likely to miss the Marathon having been stuck abroad when the volcanic ash stopped flights but managed to get back in the UK with two days to spare. Over at the Red Start, Graham Lyon, Sue Clayton and Iain Clayton were among the last people to get going. Iain: “It took us twenty minutes just to get to the start line having been allotted places at the back in Pen 9. We resolved to spend much of the event running together, overtaking the tail-enders and being inspired by all the fancy dress runners around us. It took us nearly an hour to catch the man carrying a fridge!” The LEES runners continued to work hard, overcoming the testing conditions and responding well to the encouragement of the record crowds including the many people who had travelled from to support them. Graham Lyon: “As we began to tire at around twenty miles we found ourselves alongside Princess Beatrice and Richard Branson’s children who were running in a caterpillar chain of 34 people to try to set a World Record. The extra support the crowd provided them also boosted our efforts and we were able to push on to the end.” Happily, all five of the LEES team finished the strongly, setting good times too. Knowing that our efforts have been supported by so many people and that the money raised will greatly benefit the Mental Health Foundation’s work to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems is far more rewarding than the medals handed to us at the end. Thank you all. Iain Clayton, Graham Lyon, Sue Clayton, Carolyn Burrage & Graham Bainger