Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page, please take the time to read below and really get a sense of why i'm taking on the challenge of the London Marathon.

From a young age I have been a keen sportsman. My fitness and sporting aspirations were compromised by glandular fever from the age of 10 until 14. The debilitating illness and resultant loss of self- confidence made me appreciate how precious good health is and how those blessed with robust health perhaps fail to appreciate how fortunate they are. On return to full time education in Year 10 I had built up my immune system and gradually improved my fitness through participating in numerous rounds of golf. I returned to competitive football and as my stamina returned I began to enjoy distance running. I did my first half marathon in 2011in Yeovil and then did a further half marathon in Eastbourne. Having taken to endurance events my next   challenge was to train and participate in the Weymouth half ironman event. Whilst I enjoyed the iron man disciplines the intense training is now impractical as I am in the third year of a teacher training degree and I am currently on an extended teaching practice. The decision to compete in the London Marathon was a personal goal as I strive to achieve another milestone, whilst I celebrate my good fortune I would also like to commemorate my beloved grandpa Burton who lost his battle with bowel cancer in December 2010.

My grandpa Bryan John Burton, was the son of a Birmingham commercial artist.  He inherited the artistic gene, becoming an accomplished wood carver, silversmith, artist, and bee keeper.  He was a student at the Birmingham school of art when the Second World War began, disrupting his education, however the lesson of life transpired into a role as ambulance crew during the Coventry blitz. This rich tapestry of experience provided an insight into his youth the family where more able to understand his life as he reminisced in the memoirs’ written in the last year of his terminal illness. 

Throughout his long marriage to my grandma Grace the family were central to his existence. In the idyllic village lifestyle he spent hours working in the large flower and vegetable garden, tending the land and caring for his many beehives.  In his professional life he was a secondary school teacher specialising in wood and metal work. He gave selflessly of his time as a church warden, tending the church and cemetery grounds, and creating hymn boards, a carved nativity scene and font cover.  His skills are to be found in the local primary school where he was a governor and at the former secondary school  Hadham Hall where he restored  buildings and artefacts of historical importance.

In the village of Little Hadham in Hertfordshire there is a lasting testimony to Bryan’s talent – a sign crafted to mark the Millennium. Grandpa helped to transform many young person’s lives and as the saying goes, as a teacher he took hold of hands, opened minds and touched the hearts of many.

With grandma he actively supported his four children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren Having strong Christian beliefs ensured that our grandparents provide a stable, moral and ethical foundation, encouraging us to be hardworking, honest, caring and compassionate.

 In May this year my uncle Geoff also lost a five year battle from bowel cancer and I decided it would be pertinent to raise money for cancer research as two immediate family members has valiantly lived with bowel cancer. The treatment they received enabled periods of remission and my grandpa met his great grandchild Reece (my brothers little boy) and Geoff held his first grandchild Rory. Without the medical research treatment and periods of remission would have limited their life span, I wish to raise money for Bowel Cancer research to enable further progress to be made which may improve the quality of life for those suffering from this illness and hope that one day a cure will be possible.

Thank you to all my family and friends for taking the time to read this citation and I appreciate any sponsorship that you feel able to provide in support of my participation in the London Marathon. My personal challenge is to complete the marathon in 3 and a half hours and I am targeting £2,500 in fundraising. If you would like to know more about the Bowel  Cancer charity please refer to the website.

http://www.beatingbowelcancer.org