Jersey Hospice Care did amazing work in looking after my Dad, towards the end of his life. He passed away from cancer, tragically early at the age of 60, on 9 May 1991.

9 May 2021 will be the 30th anniversary of his passing and I’ve decided to commemorate him by doing something really challenging. 

My Dad was a grammar school boy who, from working class origins, went to read physics at Cambridge University, became a schoolmaster at Eton College, then at 36 in 1967, was appointed as the headmaster of Victoria College: a great example of the power of education, something he passionately believed in. He was 24 years as headmaster, still the most long serving on record.  During his time, he had a direct influence over the education of several thousand Jerseymen, and I would like to think, improved their lives and that of their families through education. He was also a family man: an amazing father to me and my siblings and husband to my mother, Mary. 

I’ve been a regular runner for over 35 years but have never attempted anything like as far as a marathon so it’s definitely a tough challenge for me (I’m 55!). 

This marathon is not a public event of course, given the constraints imposed by the pandemic, but I will be doing it with the very excellent duo of Ed Devenport (yes a relation, my nephew!) and Will Pearson, both experienced marathon runners who have, travel restrictions permitting, kindly agreed to keep me company and plod along at my pace. If I can make it in sub-4 hours that would be a great result.

The great thing about designing your own marathon is you can choose your course and we’ve got a lovely one mapped out starting from Gorey and ending up at St Ouen's.  It includes Victoria College and lots of other locations in the Island that are very special to me: every place I’ve ever lived in Jersey (there are quite a few), my Mum's house, my in-laws' house, the pub where I had my first date with my wife (the Harvest Barn, no longer a pub of course!) and the offices of Mourant Ozannes (Jersey) LLP (obviously!).

I'd like to thank all those who have been helping me in this challenge.  My family first of course, especially my lovely wife Emma, for putting up with all of the training and who I know will be out on the course on the day supporting.  Then there's the invaluable help I've had from Kit Chamier and Paul Garrod at True Food Sport Nutrition (also with Paul as running coach) and the ever upbeat Danny Evans (PT) - when you are running your first marathon at 55 you need all the help you can get.  There are lots of others, too numerous to mention, who have offered words of encouragement and advice: thank you!

Thanks in advance to all those who kindly make donations towards this excellent cause. Jersey Hospice Care is a specialist palliative care service and the island’s only hospice, providing holistic care for patients with any life limiting condition. Jersey Hospice Care is an independent charity and makes no charge to patients. It costs over £20,000 a day to run the charity’s services. Funding for our care services is thanks to the generosity of Islanders.We are here for the community because of the community. Without your continued support and generous donations this wouldn’t be possible.