Eventers, vets, beaglers and jockeys are taking part in the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon later this month (26 April) to raise funds for charity.
Triple Badminton winner Ian Stark, 61, is taking part in his third London Marathon to raise money for Sparks, the children’s medical research charity. Sponsor him here
In 2013 he completed the 26 miles in 4hr52min, knocking 11min off the time he clocked 10 years earlier.
Professor Stuart Reid is running the London Marathon in aid of the RVC Animal Care Trust, the Veterinary Benevolent Fund (VBF) and Mind.
Professor Reid said in his role as president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and principal of the Royal Veterinary College he “would like to take every opportunity to help break down the stigma associated with mental health and wellbeing.”
“Most of all, I am doing it for the nine people I know personally who are no longer with us, and the many more who have found, and will find, help in time,” he added.
Professor Reid hopes to raise £10,000. Sponsor him here
There are 14 runners in this year’s Racing Welfare London Marathon team including racehorse trainer Paul D’Arcy; horse transporter Bryan Elliott; equine physio Wendely Wesselink; Rod Street, chief executive of Great British Racing; Amelia Williams, stable manager at Market Rasen racecourse and apprentice jockey Paul Booth.
Each had to raise a minimum of £1,500 to take part. All the funds raised will help Racing Welfare support the industry’s stud stable staff. More information here
Racing Welfare won an award for the highest amount raised in the London Marathon last year after Pearl Bloodstock founder Sheikh Fahad took part with his racehorse trainers helping the team raise over £200k.
This year’s Countryside Alliance marathon runners include Charles Jardine, the 62 year-old director of the CA’s Fishing4Schools project; Sophie Moate, 29, a keen beagler who works in corporate PR in London and Holly Bourne-Arton, 20, a student who hunts with the Bedale.
“At the age of 62, to contemplate a marathon is an act of clinical insanity by Fishing4Schools and the Countryside Alliance Foundation are such amazing causes I could not pass up the chance,” said Charles Jardine.
The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has six marathon runners including ophthalmology vet Ben Blacklock and horse owner Rebecca Mackie.
Ben Blacklock, 30, is an ophthalmologist and has worked for the AHT since 2011. He is running the marathon with Oriol Obradors Barat, an equine vet at Isle Veterinary Group. Together they want to raise more than £3,000 for the AHT.
Ben said: “I have witnessed first-hand all of the great work that the charity does. It’s been really challenging to find time to train, especially as I am running with a friend who is also a vet, but the AHT is a cause we both feel very strongly about.”
