John Gordon
George Gandy Legacy Fund
Fundraising for Loughborough University
Story
I'm supporting the George Gandy Legacy Fund. Our goal is to raise money for Georges Legacy Fund that will be used to provide funding support for annual grants to potential top-tier athletes, coming to compete and study at Loughborough University and Loughborough College.
To show my support of helping towards the GG legacy fund, I will be participating in the Berlin Marathon on 26th September 2021 (subject to Covid-19) otherwise the Manchester Marathon on 10th October 2021.
George Gandy sadly passed away earlier in October.
When I first came to Loughborough, I was still new to athletics. I had just taken it up the year before and being new to the sport I wasn't familiar with many big names in the sport. When I joined Loughborough Students Athletics Club, I didn't even know who George Gandy was never mind the athletes he had coached and his achievements. Going through the first few years at Loughborough with multiple injuries, not being able to train much and hardly any opportunities to race, running was becoming more of a hobby than a sport. I eventually approached George directly for tips and advice and sooner rather than later he became my coach and had my first injury free season.
George had coached so many olympians and world class athletes and the fact that I found myself being coached by him shows the type of character he was. A man with a passion for athletics and time for any kind of runner, treating everyone equally. He cared so much for his athletes, never forgetting about them and always messaging to ask how things were going. A man who had time for you no matter who you were. Those who have trained under George will also know about his younger side, going out to social events with the club, nights out at BUCS after parties and even trying to teach some of us his chat up lines! He really was full of character.
Having spent 6 years at Loughborough, it was a privilege to have him look over me as an athlete, offering all the knowledge and guidance he held. His many stories about all the great people he had come across and his life experiences will be greatly missed but will keep me inspired, being grateful to be one of 'Gandy's Men'.
George was the first person to coach me for my debut marathon in 2018 and was a pleasure to have him guide me through it. During this time I switched from the shorter distances as I was getting disappointed with all of my performances, disheartened and frustration with the sport was taking over. Working with George I was able to find love for the sport and enjoy it again. That following year I was put back to my best and everything clicked back in place. This marathon will be dedicated to George and I hope to do him proud!
If you would like to see the type of training I'm doing and how it's going you can follow my strava profile and keep up to date with all the runs, sessions and everything I do along the way. I also hope that I will be able to inspire others whether they've been running all their life, beginners or wanting to start!
https://www.strava.com/athletes/26423401
