On 27th April, over 50,000 runners took to the streets in this year’s London Marathon. They ranged from elite athletes chasing records to first-timers running for charity. As ever, the atmosphere was electric, with crowds lining the route from Greenwich to The Mall, cheering runners on with homemade signs, cowbells, and endless encouragement. Runners are treated to the iconic landmarks that include Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace that add magic to the 26.2-mile journey.
Those first-timers included our Trustee/Treasurer, John Clark, a regular marathon runner who was realising a life’s ambition in running a first London Marathon after many failed attempts to secure a place in the public ballot. In doing so, he was proudly showing off his Pipal Tree running vest while raising funds for our Lily’s Leaves project work in Nepal. Lily’s Leaves is a social enterprise that provides training and employment for vulnerable and disabled (deaf) young women that we helped establish in 2020 and have funded each month ever since. And now John had a chance to contribute to that monthly transfer from his own efforts and the generosity of his friends and family.
John has managed to raise a tremendous £1,723 in sponsorship (not including Gift Aid) – fitting recognition of the effort that he made on what turned out to be day that was a few degrees too hot for personal bests.
You can still give John a financial pat on the back through the link below:
A well-earned runner's medal
