Running the London Marathon for Naomi House and Jacksplace

Area Development Manager, Dave Mouring decided to take on the challenge of taking part in the London Marathon for Naomi House and Jacksplace, a children’s hospice based in Winchester. We had a chat with Dave to find out a bit more about his marathon journey.

What made you decide to run a marathon?

About 4 years ago I decided to lead a healthier lifestyle. I have a little girl called Emily and she is now 10, so I wanted to be more active to be able to play with her and be able to see her grow up.

Why did you want to support Naomi House and Jacksplace?

It’s a local charity in the area I work in and I wanted to make a difference. 

I have a friend who works for the charity, and she is the senior fundraiser. We had a discussion and she offered me a place, I said there was no way I could run a marathon! Not only physically, but mentally I felt I didn’t have it in me. Then I read the following from their website:

“When a child or young adult is diagnosed with a life limiting condition, Naomi House & Jacksplace becomes their home from home. Our nursing, care, play and family support teams are experts in delivering the crucial emotional, spiritual, developmental, clinical and holistic care that children and young adults with some of the most complex medical needs require.

We offer vital respite support, giving families the chance to recharge their batteries and regroup in a calm, fun and welcoming environment. In times of emergency, we’re there, giving families the help they need through difficult times. And at the end of a child or young adult's life, we pull out all the stops to give them a peaceful and dignified end, surrounded by loved ones.”

I thought to myself that these children and young adults don’t have a choice with the challenges they have to face, it’s something they must endure. I had the opportunity to make a real difference by coming out of my comfort zone, so it was the least I could do.

How long did it take you to train for the marathon?

I followed a 16-week training plan, which started on the 5th of June. I had to invest a lot of time to ensure I had the right kind of training:

• June – 55 miles
• July – 60 miles
• August – 175 miles
• September – 145 miles

What was your finish time?

My Finish time was 4 Hours 22 mins 40 seconds. I never stopped once and ran the whole 26.2 miles, I was very proud of myself!

Dave managed to raise an astonishing £2,440 for the hospice with The Brewers Foundation matching the amount raised. This makes the total amount raised to £4,880! 

We want to send a huge congratulations to Dave for completing the London Marathon and showing us all what we can achieve when we put our minds to it!