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Virgin London Marathon 2012 - Introducing our courageous team
We are delighted to give a warm welcome and a huge thank you to our new team of marathon runners.
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Already they are training hard and working out innovative ways to reach their £1,500 fundraising target. As always you can help them in their cause by clicking the links to be taken to their Justgiving page.
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My name is Ian Chapman and I live in Luton, Bedfordshire. I’ve been married to my gorgeous wife Helena for over 5 years now and we have an amazing son called Joe, along with another arrival due any day now.
This is the first time I’ve ever run a full marathon and to take part in this opportunity is very special and one that I will take on to the best of my ability.
The reason for deciding to do this challenge is because my son Joe suffers with Eczema and has done from 3 weeks old. I grew tired of the countless times I had to visit the GP in order to try and improve his skin condition and all I was told was "there's nothing to cure it, he will grow out of it."
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I hated the fact that at times he would cry due to the pain and there was nothing I could do to make it better for him. The National Eczema Society does some great work and I feel that they are not given the support or the exposure that some other larger charities receive. As this is a charity that directly affects me and my family, I want to succeed in this challenge of a lifetime.
I am in the process of some hard training now and following a detailed plan; the weather is pretty awful and will only get worse. This makes it hard to find the enthusiasm to get out and train in the evenings after long days at work, but thanks to the full support of my family, I manage to keep going. If I ever get to a point where I’m struggling or feeling low, all I think about is my son and try to understand what he has to go through with his condition, this is my sole motivation. I will continue to focus on this when times are hard, in order to achieve this goal and also support spreading the awareness of the condition and make people aware of this charity and the good work that they do.
I look forward to providing an update after the race with the finish time and also the final amount raised. To help spur Ian on even more, you can sponsor him here via justgiving.
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A bit about me... I am a first time marathon runner, so am really just hoping to make it round the 26.2 miles and can say to myself that I have achieved a milestone as a runner.
Having never been athletic at school, my love for running started about 2 years ago when I completed my first 10km race. The transition from treadmill running to jogging outdoors had not been an easy one. Nevertheless, I am glad I did it. Ever since then I have achieved a few 10km PB's and completed 3 half marathons (Royal Parks Half Marathon, Edinburgh Half Marathon and the Great North Run).
I find running a great way to de-stress and to clear my head after a long day at the office. Sometimes it can be hard to get myself out there especially when it is so cold and dark outside, and the thought of just having a night in or catching up with friends over wine can be very tempting. But by being a member of a running club (I am a member of the north London club, Mornington Chasers) and by signing up to various races kept me motivated even during the freezing icy winters.
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To me, running is more than just about keeping fit (although that is definitely an added bonus!), it is also a test of self motivation and perseverance and of course the endorphin kicks that follow.
As I approach my big 3-0, I think the best way to celebrate would be to train for the London 2012 Marathon, which happens in the same month as my birthday. Although the training prior to it will be very testing!
Why I am running for the National Eczema Society?
I suffered from very bad eczema as a child, I remember how bad the flares were as I could not stop scratching. I scratched until my skin got infected and the situation was quite difficult for my parents to manage.
For most people. eczema would disappear with age, but unfortunately not for me. I seem to be getting very bad eczema attacks every few years, they come without warning but most likely to be triggered by stress / environmental irritants. This year (2011), I had the worst flare ups for as long as I can remember, and aside from the physical discomfort it also caused emotional distress. At its worst I was quite distracted from work, had to stop exercising (as sweat aggravated my skin), and stop socialising with friends as I was not well. I also had to replace my wardrobe with loose cotton clothing, as it was the only thing that would not irritate my skin.
One day I came across the NES website as I was trying to find some answers to my situation and noticed that one of the avenues of fundraising is through sponsorship of the London Marathon, so I registered my interest instantly as I would like to help this charity to raise money for a cause that is so close to heart.
Whilst there is no "cure" for eczema as yet, I believe the charity is doing a great job in supporting those suffering from this condition - which unless one has experienced it, they do not realise the devastating and adverse impact it can have on their lives. Click to sponsor Sarah on Justgiving.
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Three of my grandchildren have eczema and, with a combined age of 160 months, have already experienced 4,800 days of discomfort due to the condition.
Like any grandparent I would give the world to see them grow, flower and develop, which is why I’ve signed up for 210 days of training and many miles of pain to raise money to help the National Eczema Society to provide information and support to those with eczema and their carers as well as the healthcare professionals who treat them.
Click to Sponsor Billy on Justgiving.
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I’ve suffered from eczema since birth. As a child it was quite severe and all over my body. As I have got older it is not quite so bad but I still have it on my hands, legs and feet.
‘I am a member of the Society and find all the information and magazines really useful, which is why I want to raise awareness of the charity’s work and the help and support it can provide.
‘My two close friends, Sam and Kirsty, will be supporting me on the day and some of my work colleagues will also cheer me on from the sidelines. While my main target is to make it to the finishing line in one piece, I would ideally like to come in under 6 hours.
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I trained at the Royal Veterinary College in London and, after seeing the runners each year, it has long been my ambition to join them.
I’ve always enjoyed running and have completed a number of 5-km and 10-km runs and two half-marathons, but this is my first Marathon.
‘I am delighted to be able to run for the National Eczema Society and to help raise awareness of the work they do. I’m well aware of the total disruption that living with eczema can cause.
My younger brother has atopic eczema and I remember just how much discomfort he used to suffer and being unable to help him.
‘Training so far seems to be going well; it’s nice to go for a run and put a difficult day behind me.
My friends and family are a great support, even if I can’t get them to come out with me! Click here to sponsor Emma.
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