2020 was a year that tested us all; no more so for me by that fact it is the year I lost my mum. There were three weeks between the day we got her diagnosis of cancer and the day she died and, if I am honest, I am happy it was that way. I was fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time with mum during those three weeks and in that time I made her some promises – one of them being to run a marathon.

Running is one of the first things I think of when I think of my mum. There was a time where she was not fit enough to run to the end of the street (that is no over exaggeration) but being the determined and motivated woman she was, that was not going to get in her way. Over the course of her running adventures, mum ran fun runs, 10ks, half marathons - including numerous Great North Runs - and several marathons. Now it is my turn to follow in her footsteps.

So after making my promise, I entered the ballot for the 2021 London Marathon optimistically hoping for a place: I was unsuccessful. My efforts then went to entering the 2021 Yorkshire Marathon and I am delighted to say I will be running it this October – what I thought was going to be my first ever marathon. However, one afternoon, whilst teaching my class at school, my phone rang. It was the MS society (a charity that raises money for a cause very close to my family) offering me a charity place to run the 2021 London Marathon. And there we have it … having promised mum I would run one marathon, I am now
running two … in the space of three weeks!

As part of my charity place for the MS society I have pledged to raise a minimum of £2000. The reason I have chosen to run for the MS Society is because my dad has suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for over 15 years. MS can be a debilitating and pride stripping disease – not just for the sufferer but also the support network around the sufferer. Over the course of time, my mum became my dad’s carer – something I do not think I realised the extremities of until she passed
away.

So here I am, gearing up for my first ever marathon (that will shortly be followed by my second ever marathon) and it would mean a lot to me and my family if you would kindly be generous to sponsor.

Thank you,

Sam