Dear All,

I am pleased to report I successfully completed the marathon on Sunday 4th November!!

Sadly my calves were the least of my problems (although they are in complete pieces!) but I was so determined to complete the race.

I managed to finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes which is pretty rubbish effort and I’m really sorry to everyone for not being quicker. I was on track for around 3 hours and 30 minutes until around mile 20 when I was pulled over by the medical team. I refused though to submit to the pain and walked the last 6 miles in a rather confused state!

Sadly after the race I had to go to a&e for about five hours as the doctors were concerned I might have a bleed on my brain but thank god it just turned out to be acute sinusitis! Extremely painful but thankfully not so serious.

I’m really grateful again to you for your unbelieavbly kind donations and in particular Antonio del Balzo and my father who were absolute heroes helping me afterwards and supporting on the course.

Here are some pics and please keep donating if you have not. James' Place is truly an remarkable charity reminding us that there is always someone who will listen and talking about our struggles is half way to solving them. I actually no that first hand.

Love Roddy

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I have wanted for some time to run a marathon. It’s taken quite a long time to finally bite the bullet and I have entered for the TCS New York Marathon on 4^th November.

I am raising funds on behalf of the James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund (JWSMF) which was set up by James’s parents to help raise awareness of anxiety, depression and suicide amongst young people.

I went to school with James and I remember quite vividly the last time I saw him. It was just after his cousin Antonio's 21st birthday and I think I was just about to be thrown out of Firehouse Club on Cromwell Road! I remember his mischievous smile and having a go at him for leaving early. He had seemed a little out of sorts in hindsight but was in good spirits all evening. 

A few weeks later on 15th December 2006, James took his own life. 

James had no history of mental illness nor depression. He was not a heavy drinker nor a drug user. Ten days following a minor operation, James’ decline from being his normal, happy self to being anxious, depressed and ultimately suicidal was rapid and those close to him were unable to appreciate the severity of what was happening.

It’s frustrating that still in 2018 suicide and mental health can be such a taboo subject. It’s equally shocking that suicide is the leading cause of death amongst young men in the UK. However It seems society is slowly changing and the Charity and many others are doing amazing things to make access to help and support much more freely available.

James’ brother Harry a long with Sam Greenly, Rory Buchanan andToby Fenwicke-Clennell raised over £550,000, an extraordinary amount of money, in 2017 when they rowed the Atlantic.

As a result of the money raised and tireless work from the Charity on 19^th June 2018 The Duke of Cambridge will open James’ Place in Liverpool’s historic Georgian Quarter. The family and team behind James’ Place have created a space where people experiencing suicidal thoughts can feel safe and valued.  I really hope this will be the first of many such centres in the UK.

I would be incredibly grateful if you could donate as little or as much as you can to help this fantastic cause. 

Over 15 years ago i was a national middle distance champion. I very much intend to roll back the years and run my heart out.

Love Roddy