I’m Steve Raven, a running enthusiast and lover of sport. This is why I am fundraising for Greenhouse Sports. I am taking on a unique 1,000-day run training challenge. My challenge is embedded in the philosophy that Greenhouse Sports takes into schools. If we are offered the opportunities we will take up the challenge of sport, we will achieve in life more generally. Read on … and please give generously so that sports participation is ever more inclusive.

Steve’s 1,000-Day Challenge: Berlin 2026 to a Sub-3 Marathon at Age 70 in 2029.

Thank you for visiting Steve’s fundraising JustGiving page and supporting an inspiring journey that blends personal ambition with a powerful cause.

In September 2026, Steve will take on the Berlin Marathon, one of the wourld’s most iconic races. But Berlin is only the beginning. This event falls almost exactly 1,000 days before Steve turns 70 - the moment he hopes to stand on the start line of the 2029 London, Berlin or Valencia Marathon and attempt something extraordinarily rare: a sub-3-hour marathon at age 70.

Very few runners in history have ever broken three hours in their seventies. It’s a performance that sits right on the edge of human possibility, demanding years of disciplined training, resilience, and unwavering focus. For Steve, this isn’t about chasing records. It’s about showing what can be achieved through long-term commitment, smart training, and a refusal to let age define our potential.

As he begins this 1,000-day journey, Steve is using the challenge to raise money for a charity whose work deeply resonates with him: Greenhouse Sports.

Why Greenhouse Sports?

Greenhouse Sports uses sport to help young people living in poverty reach their full potential. Working in schools and communities across London, they place inspirational sports coaches where they are needed most - helping children build confidence, resilience, life skills and a sense of belonging. Their programmes transform outcomes for thousands of young people every year, giving them structure, support, and the belief that they can achieve more than they ever thought possible.

For Steve, this mission aligns perfectly with his own belief that sport has the power to shape lives, open doors, and teach the values that matter most: perseverance, discipline, teamwork and hope. By supporting Greenhouse Sports, Steve aims to ensure that young people facing real challenges can access the same positive experiences that shaped his own lifelong love of sport.

The Journey Ahead

Over the next 1,000 days, Steve will share regular updates as he builds towards his goal. There will be high points, tough patches, breakthroughs and setbacks - because that’s the reality of chasing something extraordinary. Berlin 2026 is the first marker, a chance to test fitness and set the path toward London, Berlin and Valencia 2029.

Your support - whether through donations, encouragement, or simply following the journey - will make every mile more meaningful. Every pound raised will help Greenhouse Sports deliver life-changing support to children who need it most.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you for taking the time to read Steve’s story and for supporting a challenge that brings together purpose, ambition and a belief in human potential at any age. With your help, Steve will arrive in Berlin - and eventually in London - knowing he’s running not just for himself, but for thousands of young people whose futures can be brighter because of sport.

Let’s back Steve, and let’s back Greenhouse Sports.