The Goal
I will be raising £100,000 to benefit two incredibly impactful charities, The West Ham United foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of my late Father, and raise vital awareness about mental/physical health, the importance of community engagement and the transformative power of running!  

The Story
Back in 2021 my Father was diagnosed with stage 4, terminal, oesophageal cancer. Devastating news for us all, and sadly news that so many of us receive every day.

My father was a huge West Ham United fan, and just a few months before he died we were able to take him to watch his beloved Hammers at the London Stadium. An unforgettable experience for us all, and something I know he was super touched that we made happen for him. Not that he’d say it ;)

The Main Event
On the 25th May 2024 I will complete 100km (250 laps) around the London Marathon Community Track in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford! 

I will be joined along the way by members of the community, beneficiaries of the charities and a few special guests. And as a bonus, I will also set a record for the most consecutive laps at the track! 

The Build Up Events
In the build up to the main event, I will be holding a series of mini challenges, these include running a marathon on a treadmill, hosting a 100km relay run and running the height of Ben Nevis.

I will encourage people to get involved so stay tuned across Instagram and Strava to see how you can get involved.

The Charities
The West Ham Foundation
The London Borough of Newham is the most deprived in London, with 25% of children living in poverty compared to a national average of 18%. And 30% of children classed as obese compared to the nation average of 21%. 

Newham also struggles to meet its commitments with mental health support, citing difficulties in attracting and recruiting, as well as reduced funding. 

West Ham Foundation seek to provide an innovative approach to understanding and meeting the needs of Newham by building partnerships and utilising insight and technology to create an environment where all can thrive - from the heart of East London.

Whether it be through their health initiatives helping those most vulnerable, providing mentoring, education and employment opportunities, or keeping children and youths engaged and supported through sports and classroom provision they are wholly committed to helping others fulfil their potential.

Macmillan Cancer Support
It is estimated that there are currently 3 million people living with cancer in the UK, rising to 4 million by 2030, and 5 million by 2040! With someone diagnosed every 90 seconds and 460 people sadly losing their battle every day!

So it’s clear there’s still a long way to go when it comes to early prevention and diagnosis, and that’s where Macmillan come in. They research the changing needs of people living with cancer and the people who support them to help deliver services and campaigns, and do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer when they need it the most.

In 2015 they ran a study and found that of the 1.6m people living with cancer, 110,000 of those were living with treatable, but not curable cancer. So they invest in programmes and services to help professionals adopt new and innovative ways to deliver cancer care in the UK. Working in communities and with the NHS to fund pilots to improve experiences and outcomes for people with this diagnosis.

Your Support
By making a donation you will enable the great work of these two charities to continue, making a lasting impact on so many people for years to come.

Alongside the main goal, you will also be raising vital awareness about the importance of movement for our physical and mental health.

Thank you so much for your support and to follow my progress you can find me on Instagram @jimbobrunning (James Eggleton) and to track my training you can follow my Strava account below.