A MAN from Twyford will be lacing up his running shoes next weekend as he takes on the world-famous London Marathon.
Jonathan Miller, 39, who lives in New Road, will be running the 26-mile course on Sunday, April 24 to raise money for national disability charity United Response after his sister suffered brain damage as a child.
Jonathan said: “My eldest sister suffered brain damage when she was young. My parents were told she would never live a normal life, but thanks in part to support from organisations such as United Response, she gained an education, has worked in a variety of roles and is married with a son who is now in sixth form.”
Jonathan’s passion for the cause has helped him focus on training and made him determined to exceed his fundraising target of £1,500.
“I’m really looking forward to the big day and am sure there will be a lot of emotions going through me. When running long distances you get a lot of time to think through why you’re doing it and being part of the United Response team really gives me that extra drive when I need it.
“The response has been as staggering as my running style, with friends, family and colleagues all pledging generous amounts.
“My wife Elizabeth and my two sons James, 8, and Oliver, 4, have been amazing and keep telling me how proud they are of both the running and the fundraising. I couldn’t ask for a better support team.”
Jonathan, who works for a business software development company, has done the Reading half-marathon several times but felt he could push himself further, and is determined to conquer the ‘big one’ before he turns 40 next year.
His job involves travelling, which means he has had to train in a variety of conditions. He said: “I have had to fit in runs in Brussels, Hamburg, Tokyo and Manila on the way. Manila was the hardest with uneven pavements, smoke-belching trucks, temperatures of over 35 degrees centigrade and high humidity, but it definitely kept it interesting.”
To help Jonathan reach his fundraising target, visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jonmtmiller.
Are YOU running the London Marathon on Sunday? Email your name, a short bio and a picture of yourself to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk before Thursday, April 21. Good luck!
