Alex Cole
Alex's 12 Months 4 Charity page
Fundraising for Barnardo's
Story
I have been on a journey of personal rediscovery topped with finding a new level of fitness this last year and I wanted to stretch myself over this next 12 months, taking the opportunity to give back to those that are less fortunate than me.
I started running in June in a bid to get fit and in the hope of taking up football again in September. My first 5km run was painful and I walked half of it, finishing in just over 38 minutes but little did I know how this would motivate me to build upon that time.
After 2 months of running once a week at least, I completed my first 10k for The Hospice in Weald and after that I quickly signed up to the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon in Feb 2015. My aim was always to complete this in under 2hrs.
By December 2014 I had not had a week without running, increasing the frequency and distance and had completed the TW Half route in 1hr 56m and my PB for 5km is 15 minutes quicker than that first run in June.
In light of these early achievements I needed to push myself further and with this "12 months 4 Charity" was born.
Simply put, 12 months with one fundraising event every month, pushing my limits and in some cases conquering my fears.
Having worked for John Lewis over the last 4 years and this being the start of my personal rediscovery, and having celebrated our 150th year as a business raising money for Barnardo's, I was certain that this would be my chosen charity for the first 12 months.
So now I appeal to all my friends, family and their friends to join me in this challenge. All the events are open to anyone and most are organised through Barnardo's themselves so the more the merrier.
If you can't join me, then please just spread the word and sponsor me if at all possible.
I'm open to challenges too, if there was ever anything that you really wanted to do but needed the motivation, then let me know and lets get it on the list, we don't have to stop at 12 events or even 12 months!
Like the page on Facebook "12 Months 4 Charity", Tweet using the hashtag #124Charity and follow me @12_4_Charity
My website is
The calendar of my events is as follows;
To be announced shortly
My target for the 12 months is a very appropriate though ambitious £12000 but I would love to see this grow for this great cause.
Please share and support and thank you in advance.
Alex
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