Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am running the Amsterdam Marathon in aid of my mums Brain Tumour Charity fund, The Jean Wright Fund. 

One of the last things I ever said to my dad Graham before he sadly passed away in February this year was that I was going to run the Amsterdam Marathon. He was really supportive, although I fully expected a bit of banter/grief from him. (which those that knew Graham would appreciate) 

Graham was equally as passionate about the Jean Wright Fund. We watched helplessly as the woman that we both loved dearly was taken away by the most aggressive of brain tumours, Glioblastoma Multiformae (GBM). 

The thought of him and my mum up there willing me on is what keeps me going on what is a truly mammoth task for me.... I didn't realise just how hard it would be and how it would affect my 41-year-old body... 

To put it into context, in March this year, I was 130kg not very tall (5'8") fat bloke and thoroughly out of shape. What the hell had I done! 

I got a personal trainer and the first thing we did was a 1.5km run to gauge my fitness. I couldn't run it all and ended up taking 17 minutes....

Slowly but surely, my fitness began to improve with more sessions and the weight was dropping off too. I started running for longer and in July, I did my first ever 10km in just over 63 minutes. Not quick at all, but a massive breakthrough for me.

Everything was looking good, and then my body broke down under the strain of training... Problems with both knees stopped me running further than 5km for 7 weeks during what should have been the height of marathon training. I didn't start fundraising before now because I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to take part...  

Almost a last resort I got an appointment to see a friend and podiatrist who put some foam in my shoes to see if it helped relieve the strain on my knees. I then ran without pain that evening for the first time in nearly 2 months for 7km. Encouraged, I decided to go all out and run the Winchester Half Marathon 2 days later, which was nothing short of brutal by the way! Suffering from cramp for the last 4km but most importantly no knee pain! 

So now I'm all in and going for it! Massively undertrained and terrified, but I swear I am finishing this no matter what. Knees are still niggling but nothing is stopping me now. My mum and dad will make sure of that xxx. 

I'm less than 95kg now and the weight is continuing to drop.  Those that know me can vouch for the change its made. 

Although I appreciate the weight loss, this has all been done to raise valuable funds to fight the most aggressive brain tumours. 

Any help you can give will be very much appreciated. Below is some information about the Jean Wright Fund and why I am putting myself through this. Thank you and lots of love xxx    

Jean’s Story

Jean was just 60 when she passed away in June 2015 leaving her family and many friends devastated

She had battled bravely a high-grade tumour (GBM) for 19 months.

She was a much-loved wife to Graham, mother to Michael and grandmother to Toryn, Michael and Daniel.

Jean was originally given a diagnosis of 12-18 months and managed to hold on to see her new grandson be born on 28 February.

Jean and Graham were publicans for 25 years and were well known in and around the south of England.

They ran pubs in Portsmouth (New Inn), Park Gate (The Sir Joseph Paxton and The Village Inn), Romsey (The Hunters Inn) and Salisbury (The Hampton Inn & Premier Inn)

In the 1980's, Graham and Jean raised over £26,000 for a young girl called Rebecca with cerebral palsy through their pub The Sir Joseph Paxton.

Famous for her warm heart, hard-working attitude and sometimes fiery temper.

Many regulars often felt the wrath of Jean's ladle if they misbehaved!

We remember her every day for her thoughtfulness and care of others.

Her warm personality and wicked sense humour will remain with her family and many friends forever. Also, shares in eBay we believe will never recover after Jean's passing!

We miss her so very much every day, such a beautiful woman.

About The Jean Wright Fund

The fund team is made up of a collection of friends, family and former staff team members from the pubs that Jean and Graham ran.

This was formally known as the “Team Jean Wright Community” while we researched for prospective treatments for Jean.

Every penny raised through this fund will be used specifically to help The Brain Tumour Charity which provided much-needed support for Jean whilst she was suffering from her illness.

The majority of the funds raised will be used specifically to undertake further research into high-grade tumours like the Glioblastoma Multiformae Jean had.

We really hope that Jean's memory will help enable different and better treatments to be discovered and eventually find a cure for brain tumours.

Jean truly was an inspiration to many people and the most caring person we ever knew.

We would like to raise over the £26,000 Jean and Graham raised in the 1980's as a tribute to Jean and to show the world how much she meant to us all.