Born in the West Midlands, residing in West Yorkshire and running the London Marathon for a charity based in East Anglia. It's an interesting scenario, especially when considering it's been somewhat inspired by a guy I never met but have come to know really well.

My 2023 marathon story has clearly covered some miles before my training has even begun! If you were listening to this as an audio story, narrated by me, you'd be left in no doubt of my being born and brought up in the West Midlands, where my love of running began and my love for my late wife Helen blossomed. Since Helen died, I have run in her memory many times to raise money for charities. She would always give anything to help others and I, full of her love, now give my everything while running in a bid to help others too.

Despite my accent, I've now become an adopted Yorkshire man, which is how I learned about the East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity... Don't worry, I'm not geographically lost! My daughter Sophie and I moved north after I became engaged to my now wife Kirsty so that we could be a family along with her kids Eliza and Leo. Kirsty, Eliza and Leo were no strangers to loss either. Carl, Kirsty's husband and the kids dad died, taking his own life in 2016.

Carl was a Dr with a particular interest in Pre-hospital medicine and his death rocked that community. Many mourned but the staff working at the Air Ambulance Charity in East Anglia went further. They wanted to learn from Carl's death and ensure the mental health and wellbeing of their staff was prioritised in the workplace. EAAA worked with Kirsty and the kids to create The McQueen Charter, an incredible legacy to Carl and an amazing commitment to taking care of each other from staff within an organisation which exists to save lives 24/7. Being given the opportunity to support such a charity is a privilege.

The 2 East Anglian Air Ambulances are kept airborne purely through charitable support. One mission alone costs approximately £3750 the result, however, is generally invaluable. I have therefore made £3750 my target, my mission to fund a mission! I would be grateful of any support you can offer as I fly like the wind around the marathon course to help keep those helicopters flying the remarkable staff of EAAA where they need to be to make the ultimate difference of saving lives.

I understand that in the current climate asking for monetary support is a big deal so I've decide to match the donations up to the half way point of £1875 in appreciation of any help you feel able to give. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.