Jog On - Part II
IYF (UK) Runners Take on the 40th London Marathon
The inaugural London Marathon took place on 29 March 1981!
The 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 3 October is not only celebrating its 40th milestone, but it is also set to be the world’s biggest marathon with 50,000 in the live mass event and another 50,000 virtually taking on a course of their choice anywhere in the world!
Over 40 marathons a jaw dropping £1,021,400,000 has been raised for incredible causes making it a Guinness World Record breaker as the largest single annual fundraising event in the world! This despite trying times - in 2020 London Marathon raised over 50 million for charities across the UK - a powerful testament to the dedication, resilience and difference we can all make as a community.
Whether its a whistle stop tour of London from Greenwich to Buckingham Palace, discovering new sites in the local village or heroic laps around the garden like Colonel Sir Tom Moore and Dabirul Islam Choudhury OBE, this year’s marathon is set to raise the bar once again.
Taking part and representing us is Heather Farrell who will be at London’s starting line in the hope that it will be third time lucky - discover why on Heather’s fundraising page below.
Helping to raise awareness and becoming local heroes are Kelly Lawlor, Frankie & Nikki Smyth who are each taking on their own terrains
Support our runners by reading their stories and donating what you can as they train towards their epic 26.2 mile finish lines.
Heather Farrell
"Getting ready for the third attempt at London Marathon has been tough, especially with the novelty of new found freedom taking hold. My training schedule is ramping up now, with weekends spent running or recovering or trying to explain to friends why a three hour long run is a good idea! With the year we have all had, I think its clear that the strength of community can withstand anything life throws at us, and the pandemic has emphasised the importance of helping those most vulnerable. I am proud to be running for the IYF at a time when all charities are in need of a helping hand and I am looking forward to hosting some fundraisers over the coming weeks. Having not seen the majority of my family for the best part of 2 years, it is great to feel a connection to home even while running through the streets of London.
Here's to the 2021 London Marathon, lets hope its third time lucky!"
Kelly Lawlor
The IYF (UK) is “a cause very close to my heart - The Irish Youth Foundation. In 2005 The IYF merged with The Lawlor Foundation, a charity that was set up by my parents in memory of my brother Peter.”
