Team ‘New balls please‘ had planned to run our 1st marathon - The Welsh Marathon in June this year. This, like many other things in the last year or so has Unfortunately been cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Myself, Dave (Dewey) & Dave (Zippy) decided we wouldn't be defeated by the disappointing news and would continue our grueling training schedule. Our ambition is to run a marathon on the same date, 27th June 2021 along the glorious River Taff. Starting in Merthyr Tydfill, we will reach the imaginary finish line somewhere in Cardiff Bay (not quite the original scenic route intended along the coastal path of west wales but it will do).

Not having any crowds on the day will make this a tough task, but your support will help motivate us through the training and push us along on the day (otherwise we face a long walk home).

We will be raising funds for two charities, both close to the runners’ hearts. Tenovus Cancer care and The Drinks Trust.

1) The Drinks Trust:

The drinks industry has a special place in my(Lee) heart and knowing the impact that the COVID- 19 pandemic has had on my fellow friends in the industry, I wanted to help raise a few tips through The Drinks Trust. More about The Drinks Trust below;

The Drinks Trust is receiving unprecedented demand for its services. Up to 3.2 million workers in pubs, bars, restaurants, breweries and the wider hospitality sector face employment uncertainty after the Govnerment urged Britons not to go out in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.

As the UK's drinks industry charity we will do all we can to support the drinks industry employees who ask for help, but we can do it better, and reach more people, with your help. We need your donations so we can cope with unprecedented demand. Together, with your help, we can provide urgent mental health support to our drinks industry friends, colleagues and strangers who are suffering throughout these uncertain times.

Your donations will help us increase the capacity of our telephone helpline by fivefold, which means we can talk to thousands more drinks industry employees and offer specialist industry advice and mental health care. The more money we raise, the more drinks support we can give.

2) Tenovus Cancer care:

Dave(Zippy)‘s grandfather sadly passed away in December 2021 from Covid which was a sudden shock after years of battling cancer. As such, Zippy wished to ensure that funds raised to support our gruelling training and marathon run will go towards helping other families that are affected by cancer.

Tenovus Cancer Care aim to give hope, help and a voice to anyone affected by cancer, in and around the community. They empower people through their support and services. They champion their needs by campaigning for better treatments, outcomes and health across the nation. And they bring hope through influencing and working for advances in cancer research.

They have four strategic aims for the organisation for the next three years.

Aim1: To provide cancer support, information and services that empower and encourage people, helping them to have an improved quality of life.

Aim 2: To work alongside people affected by cancer to champion their needs, raise awareness of the issues faced and campaign to bring about change, at a national and community level.

Aim 3: To gain insight into the issues affecting people with cancer and to help make sure cancer research positively affects cancer outcomes and experiences.

Aim 4: To be an effective, resourceful, proactive charity where every staff member and volunteer is dedicated to the work we do in supporting people affected by cancer.