Alton man’s London Marathon challenge in memory of his dad will raise funds for the Stroke Association

An Alton man will be taking on “every runner’s dream” when he runs next spring’s TCS London Marathon in memory of his dad who died after having a stroke.

Gareth Jones, 37, said he wanted something positive to come out of the loss of his dad, Bob in June last year. He will be raising funds for the Stroke Association, the leading charity in the UK providing life-long support for all stroke survivors and their families.

This will be the second major challenge Gareth has taken on for the charity. During the July heatwave, he raised £2,759 by completing the gruelling Serpent Trail 50K Ultra Marathon through the South Downs National Park.

Gareth said: “My dad was a big character and we still miss him. We used to go trout fishing and clay pigeon shooting. He’d do anything for anybody. He was known as ‘Bob the Brick’ as he used to be a bricklayer.

“I wanted to turn losing my dad into some kind of positive. I’m into my fitness and my running and I’ve previously done the ‘Fan Dance’ a gruelling 24-kilometre endurance march over Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons, which is used as an SAS-style selection test.”

“But the Serpent Trail was the hardest thing I’ve ever done because of the hot weather at the time and it’s pretty hilly over the South Downs. I was chuffed with completing it just over six hours and almost doubling my fundraising target for the Stroke Association.

“The London Marathon is the event that any runner wants to do. I’ve been trying to get a place through the ballot for about six years, so I’m delighted to get the chance in April. This is hopefully just the beginning too - I want to be able to do something every year to remember Dad and raise awareness of stroke.”

Gareth, who works as an inspector for a corporate roofing manufacturer, has already set up his London marathon fundraising page and raised more than £400 towards his initial target of £1,000.

Jacqui Cuthbert, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South West and the Channel Islands, said, “We’re hugely grateful to Gareth for taking on these two challenges in memory of his dad.

“Over 85,000 people survive a stroke every year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and gruelling recovery journey.

“Our specialist support, research, and campaigning is only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community and the generosity of our supporters like Gareth.”

You can find Gareth’s fundraising page at https://2027tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/gareth-j-178b6

For more information about stroke and support services for survivors and carers in Hampshire, visit the Stroke Association website www.stroke.org.uk or call the Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100.