Running the London Marathon for ‘Children in Crisis’ - by Kevin Matthews
Thank you to everyone in Simon Holdings & Jenrick for supporting my goal of running the Flora London
Marathon in 2009 on behalf of ‘Children in Crisis.’ Your sponsorship support, through the Jenrick Experience Award, has given me a massive boost in not only my fund-raising, but also my motivation.
I thought it would be nice to let others see why I chose to run the marathon next year, by reading my Jenrick Experience submission:
Picture this scene . . .
It was a bright Sunday morning; the date was April 13 2008. I was sitting at home watching the start of the London Marathon with little Charlotte bouncing on my knee.
I kept listening to the interviews from these everyday people describing what had driven them to train for months on end to run these 26 miles – some were able-bodied, others disabled yet all of them had been working towards this single shared date for an entire year, if not more.
As the event started and the runners began plodding the many miles ahead, I continued to listen to their stories of what personal motivation led them to challenge themselves to complete this extreme challenge.
All their stories were powerful – and all had goals of helping other people who they considered less fortunate than themselves. Their combined messages touched me deeply.
As I listened I said to Charlotte “Daddy ran the London marathon 10 years ago raising lots of money for charity.”
No sooner had those words left my mouth I felt a great surge of guilt – here are all these people running the marathon, achieving personal goals and helping others at the same time – and here I am sitting at home on a couch watching this amazing event on TV.
I looked at Charlotte again and without hesitation said “ . . .and he’ll be running it again next year to raise money for lots of children who need our help!”
It’s funny, being a Dad has made me look at so many things again from a completely different perspective - this was one perfect example.
I had to do something and I am capable of doing something, there was simply no other option.
So, here I am entered in the 2009 London Marathon aiming to raise some much needed funding for ‘Children in Crisis’ and also make my daughter incredibly proud of her father.
So, a few bits of essential info to support my application . . .
In 2009 I am running the London Marathon on behalf of a children’s charity called ‘Children in Crisis.’
This is one of the less known children’s charities and they were so grateful when I called them and asked if I could run for them.
They not only help a number of kids in the UK, but also further afield and their work is orientated around giving children an education – regardless of personal circumstances or geographical location.
They just want these kids to have the educational foundation that we take for granted, so that they have options available to them as they grow older.
This charity help to put projects in place now, that will help children for their entire life – that was one key reason I wanted to run for them.
How the Jenrick Experience help me help this charity . . .
I have already begun my training and have entered the Great South Run in late October to ensure I am well ahead of my training targets.
From a charitable perspective, I have pledged to raise in excess of £1,500 for Children in Crisis and I am 100% committed and confident that I will achieve this – ideally with Jenrick’s assistance.
I have already committed a £250 personal donation to the charity. I am certain I can raise a further £500 from my own contacts and network. However, I would love to be considered for the Jenrick Experience Award for an additional £1,000 to enable me to beat my initial fund raising target.
To run this marathon is ‘a dream come true’ for me (in a crazy punishing kind of way), but more importantly, I know that our combined efforts and support will help improve the futures for many many children.
P.S. and although I am ten years older, I desperately want to beat my time when I last entered it!!!!
P.P.S. I’ll promise to wear a T-Shirt with a big Jenrick logo on 
Tags: flora london marathon, flora london marathon 2009, jenrick experience, kevin matthews