Will and I will be running the London Marathon in April 2017 for the Archie Lloyd Charitable Foundation, which seeks to help, influence and inspire talented young people. The money raised will go towards helping young people undergo professional coaching to improve their own skills as well as helping to inspire others in the future. The funds raised will go too mentors to help the selected candidates to become ambassadors to the Archie Lloyd Foundation. For more information on the Archie Lloyd foundation do take a look on its just giving page- https://www.justgiving.com/archie-lloyd

There are many reasons for running a marathon. There is the sense of satisfaction that results from committing yourself to a cause and finally achieving a goal. There are those that think running provides them with a useful break, with an effective way to relax, or that it complements other areas of there life. These are all valid reasons for running a marathon. They are all selfish reasons for running though. They are also reasons that don't take you much past 5 miles on a cold and dark winter's morning. 

Tristan and I are running the London Marathon for Archie! A friend of ours who's life was cut far too short. We are running in his memory, for his legacy, and because of his selflessness. We are running because of his belief and desire to change young people's lives through sport. We are running because of his wish to help young people become healthier and happier whilst also developing vital life skills. These motivations were at the heart of his plans to travel to China to coach football during his year off, and defined him as a selfless and generous friend.Archie's charity and it's partnership with Youth Sports Trust is a cause close to our heart having grown up on the fields of Cheam School playing football, rugby and other sports with Archie and his brothers, and having enjoyed many similar and memorable moments at Harrow. Tristan still remembers training alongside him on Sunday mornings in preparation for the 20 mile Charity run at Harrow back in 2014 and Arch keeping him going through the tough moments. This is why we are running for Archie's charity and in partnership with Youth Sports Trust. We hope that young people, without necessarily the best start in life, can be provided with opportunities to realise their own talent, to grow in confidence, to appreciate the value of hard work, and create fond memories. In this way they might prosper in sport, at school, and as people whilst also getting to enjoy similar experiences to those we have shared with Archie and his brothers. We are also running to remember and appreciate those relationships that make us who we are. Father-son, mother-daughter, brother, sister, friends. Those ties that bind us and according to which we identify ourselves. We are running to remember that we should never take these relationships for granted, but also in the joyful knowledge that these relationships live on and continue to bring so much good and joy to the world. They bring memories such as cheering on Arsenal at the Emirates together, and they bring about real and positive changes. Please help us to ensure it grows from strength to strength!

The Archie Lloyd Charity has formed a partnership with Youth Sport Trust International (https://www.youthsporttrust.org/youth-sport-trust-international) to deliver the first international scholarship in Archie’s memory. This will see one dedicated young football coach travel to Beijing to undertake a number of coaching opportunities, working with the British Council to help deliver their summer coaching programme. As part of this collaboration, Youth Sport Trust International will be receiving some of the funds raised through my efforts, to go towards the scholarship delivery.