Inspired by Captain/Colonel Tom Moore, Andrew Johnston, who
spent 20 years in the Army, serving in the Coldstream Guards, has wheeled the 26 miles 385 yards of the marathon distance in his 10 yard-long kitchen/family room.  He has wheeled 4615 lengths of the kitchen/family room to achieve the marathon distance at the rate of 100 lengths of the room or 1,000 yards per day.  He started his challenge on 21^st April, the Queen’s 94^th birthday and reached the marathon distance on 6^th June, the 76^th anniversary of D-Day. 

Andrew was discharged for medical reasons in 1996, having
contracted Multiple Sclerosis, the first symptoms of which manifested
themselves towards the end of a demanding operational tour of Bosnia during the civil war there.  He has been dependent on a wheelchair since March 1995.  In January 2018, he contracted flu and pneumonia at the same time, spending five days in Salisbury District Hospital ICU and just over two weeks recuperating and rehabilitating on the Spinal Unit. This episode caused significant weight and muscle loss, increased MS
related fatigue and some residual breathing difficulties.

Having completed his marathon, Andrew has not stopped there.  He is continuing his challenge for another week, wheeling a further 665 lengths, to clock up 30 miles when he finishes on Saturday 13^th June, the Queen’s official birthday, traditionally the day that the Trooping the Colour is held.  Thirty five years’ ago on the equivalent weekend in 1985, Andrew played a central role in the key moments of the ceremony.  In his role as Subaltern of the Escort, he took temporary command of the Escort to the Colour as it marched forward to collect the colour and then trooped it through the ranks of the other 7 Guards.  As there is no ceremony this year, going the extra miles is his own Royal Salute to the Queen.

This page is connected to  the MajorAndysMarathon team page as  he is seeking to raise money for six charities.  They are: 

- Association of NHS charities;

- Combat Stress, the veterans’ mental health charity;

- Wessex MS Therapy Centre, Warminster, Wiltshire;

- La Folia, a Salisbury-based music charity;  

- Racing Welfare;

- Motcombe Village Hall Charity is providing a means to distribute
money raised to individuals and organisations within Motcombe and the local community who need additional help at this difficult time.

Racing Welfare is experiencing a significant drop in income as fundraising events and activities have had to be cancelled and with no idea when they might be able to start them up again. They are therefore looking at a loss of fundraising income in 2020 of around £500,000 at the present time.  

Catherine and I are keen racing enthusiasts.  We have been members at Wincanton for any years and have tiny shares in a number of horses through the Owners Group.  We are very conscious of the efforts of the people who work behind the scenes to make racing happen.  We look forward to the return of racing, but it can only happen if we can support stud, stable and racecourse staff who need help through this difficult time.