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Nathan Chapman |
On your marks, get set... go and raise mammoth sums for charity
Runners on course to net thousands in aid of good causes at this year’s London Marathon
AN Islington health worker, two Clerkenwell firemen, and the chief executive of Crafts Central are among local residents running the London Marathon on Sunday.
Health worker Nathan Chapman has already raised a massive £1,621 for Help the Aged – £737 from collections at Highgate and Archway Tube stations.
Nathan, 26, stood at the two stations for a total of 30 hours (15 hours each day), on two days last week from 7am to 10pm, with only short breaks for tea served by London Underground staff.
Contributors included comedienne Victoria Wood, actress Alison Steadman and Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn.
Through a combination of Middlesex University charity quizzes, friends’ and family’s generosity, and collecting at the Tube stations, he is now only £379 short of his £2,000 goal.
“I’m quite proud of myself,” said Nathan from Hornsey Lane this week. “Many people only get to raise their cash from sponsorship after the marathon is over.”
He chose Help the Aged because he’s been part of a care team for elderly people in their own homes, as part of his university course.
“I was surprised by the level of neglect, despondency and loneliness that some of these individuals faced, “ said Nathan.
The charity not only campaign at government level for the rights and well being of the elderly, but also arrange practical help, both at home and abroad, to support them to live independently.
Nathan added: “To me, just because a person is older, does not mean that their intellectual or social needs are any less than our own.”
He has been training hard, including an 18-mile run up to Cockfosters and back two to three times a week.
Two firemen from Clerkenwell fire station, Phil Corbett and Scott Thorpe, are also running in the marathon.
Crew manager Phil Corbett, 26, has been a firefighter for eight-and-a-half years and joined London Fire Brigade in 2003. This will be the second time he has tackled the famous 26-mile course.
“Taking part is not only a great personal challenge, it’s a fantastic way to raise money for charity,” said Phil. “I’ll be raising funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which is based near the fire station in Holborn. So far I’ve collected around £300 in sponsorship.
“Doing the marathon is a great opportunity for us to convey the importance of fire safety to the thousands of spectators who line the route and the millions who watch on TV. We’ll be wearing running vests and handing out whistles and balloons that promote fire safety.
“If this vital fire safety information helps to save the life of one person, all the hard work is more than worth it”.
For firefighter Scott Thorpe, 34, from Little Canfield, Essex, this will be the first time that he has tackled the course.
Scott said: “I’ll be raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and so far I’ve collected around £700 in sponsorship. I chose Great Ormond Street as it’s near to our fire station and we often do charity work there, especially around Christmas time when we give out toys and games.
“Any money I raise will go towards updating their cardiac theatre.”
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