Story

So we have been best buddies for over ten years now. Both being Normy boys through and through – we hit it off from the start when we became colleagues at our childhood school, Freeston! Therefore, it’s an absolute honour to take this challenge on together and run the race of all races – The London Marathon! And we would very much like your support in this!

We are hoping that your kind support will help us raise invaluable funds for two charities that are very close to our hearts – MDUK and Sepsis UK.

Sam will be running for MDUK in memory of Joe Slatter who we sadly lost in 2021 to Muscular Dystrophy.

Joe meant the world to Abbi (my partner) and his family and there isn't a day where he isn’t thought about. Joe adored his family and thought the world of our son, Jack. Unfortunately, he never got to meet our daughter Harriett. Who was named after Joe and affectionately gets referred to as Hattie Joe, we did this so she would grow up knowing all about him. Therefore, the marathon's will be run in memory of Joe and act as a continued way of ensuring that our kids know exactly who Joe was. The ultimate goal is to fund research into a cure for the condition which means families won’t have to lose their Joes.

Mick will be running for the UK Sepsis Trust.

In December 2017 Mick’s wife Lyndsey contracted Sepsis when she was 7 months pregnant with their son. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It occurs when the body’s immune system – which normally helps to protect us and fight infection – goes into overdrive. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly. Hearing your heavily pregnant wife say the words ‘I feel like I am going to die’ is a memory that is with Mick forever and will be in the front of his mind on marathon day!

Thankfully Lyndsey is now fine, although still feels some effects of Sepsis even today. Cole is a happy, healthy 6 year old and seems totally unaffected by it!!

5 people die with sepsis every hour in the UK. The more people that can be reached with the signs of sepsis, we can work towards ending preventable deaths from this condition. Just ask - ‘Could it be Sepsis?’

Thank you for your support!