Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to share something very close to my heart and to ask for your support.

On 27 April 2025, I’ll be running the London Marathon in honour of a man who has had a profound influence on my life — both professionally and personally — Geoffrey Margolis, our Chairman at MJW13 Limited Group.

Geoffrey encouraged me to run my first marathon over two decades ago, and since then, he has quietly encouraged me to participate in every marathon I’ve taken on. I’m deeply grateful for the role he’s played — not just in shaping my running, but in giving me a way to reflect and reset. Life moves fast and has many ups and downs, but every so often — perhaps once a decade — marathon training becomes a moment to pause, to find balance, and to move forward with renewed purpose. Running has quietly improved my life in more ways than I can count.

This year’s marathon is especially meaningful. Geoffrey turns 70 on 25 April 2025, just two days before race day. With over 20 marathons behind him, he had gracefully retired — until we made a pact after the Disney Marathon last year: if he ran one final marathon, so would I. He agreed, and it’s a privilege for me — along with Mrs Lorraine Margolis, Glen, Ryan and Lukas Turner — to run alongside him as he marks this milestone with quiet determination and characteristic grace.

I’ll also be running to support a cause very dear to me: Celina’s Path Opportunity Scholarships, created in memory of my daughter Celina, who passed away from cancer in 2017. Celina’s path was tragically shortened, but through this initiative we honour her memory by opening doors for others.

Back in January 2024, I ran the Disney Marathon, and my son Benjamin (Celina’s brother) ran the Disney Half Marathon the day before. It was a deeply emotional experience for both of us. Thanks to the incredible generosity of so many, we raised £15,000, which now supports undergraduate students at Loughborough University — a place Celina once visited and hoped to attend — through the Celina’s Path scholarships.

I’ve personally committed to contributing £1,500 per year (including Gift Aid) toward the bursaries of the current scholars and will cover any shortfall. It’s my way of helping ensure that these young people can pursue their studies uninterrupted.

In an extraordinary show of support, the Cyril and Eve Jumbo Charitable Trust (CEJCT) has pledged £9,000 to Loughborough University in the coming months — meaning your donation will have double the impact — not just in helping students realise their academic potential, but in giving them access to university that they might otherwise have had to forgo due to their circumstances.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for any support you can offer. Your encouragement means the world to Benjamin and me as we run this marathon — in memory, in gratitude, and in hope.

With the warmest gratitude and thanks,

Edward

(On behalf of Benjamin and myself)

__________________________________________________________________________

Benjamin (Brother) and I (Dad) supported by Geoffrey Margolis and his family are running the Orlando Half and Full Marathons.

Our inspiration and passion to run the Marathon is the memory of my beloved daughter Celina who passed away on 7th December 2017.

Our goal is to raise funds to support 10 young people with opportunity scholarships for the duration of their degree courses at Loughborough University. Every scholarship represents a student’s unaffordable £3,000 shortfall per year for the duration of a three or four year degree course. Benjamin attended Loughborough University and they have been very supportive and helpful.

We aim to raise £100,000. CEJCT has very kindly offered to match the donations up to £50,000. Therefore, we are inspired and confident that together we can raise £50,000, thereby doubling the impact of our donation.

Whatever we raise, all the funds go directly towards supporting a young person who would otherwise let this life-changing opportunity pass them by due to their current circumstances.

Many of our young people face barriers that prevent them from pursuing and / or remaining in education, and one significant factor among these challenges is pervasive poverty. Despite possessing the academic qualifications to gain admission to a top university, these young people are unlikely to take any opportunity because of a shortfall in their budget even with part-time work.

Celina had to withdraw from university after just one term to fight cancer. That experience was heartbreaking because in her brief period at university she fully immersed herself into university life, including all night study-sessions with fellow students to meet coursework deadlines, enjoying time with her flat mates and classmates, and so many more of life’s experiences that universities offer our young people.

Having left university to battle cancer, she remained positive, and as she put it “focused on life”. She accepted, without bitterness, that her life had to follow a different path. Hence, we have chosen the name “Celina’s Path” to signify her inspirational spirit and bravery in facing adversity with a charming spirit and smile. The University has graciously established a dedicated fund called “Celina’s Path Opportunity Scholarships”, which will serve as a repository for the donations.

We will work with Loughborough University, to identify and support young individuals, hailing from disadvantaged and impoverish backgrounds, who are bright enough to independently attain admission to the University but would not be able to afford to pay for the tuition fees plus living expenses, even with part-time work.

Six years after Celina’s passing, we still miss her so much, but her inspiring and positive spirit, friendship, love and cherished memories helps us through every time. We would like to extend this legacy to other young people thus empowering them to lift up their communities and contribute to the country’s prosperity.

Therefore, In remembrance of Celina’s brave and inspiring journey, we humbly ask for your support by donating to Loughborough University Opportunity Scholarships.

Your generosity will honor Celina’s memory by creating an opportunity for another young individual.

How to donate:

Please make your cheque out to Loughborough University and forward it to CEJCT office at the 3rd Floor, Julco House, 26-28 Great Portland Street, London W1W 8QT. We will send all the donations and matching funding to the University referencing Celina’s Path Opportunity Scholarships.

The JustGiving page for the donations is:-

https://justgiving.com/page/celinas-path