Jo's 100th Marathon for dementia, mental health and the coast path
I've chosen three causes close to my heart to support as I run my 100th marathon - they are Exeter Dementia Action Alliance, The Samaritans (Exeter and District branch), and the South West Coast Path Association.
Dementia has been a big part of my life since childhood when my lovely granny lived with this terrible disease, it later affected my other grandmother, my dad, some dear friends, and now my husband John, who's lived with mixed dementia since 2017, and relies totally on me as his carer. Exeter Dementia Action Alliance is a fantastic locally based charitable organisation that raises awareness about dementia, engages with the business community and individuals and having seen their work in action I know it makes a real positive difference.
Mental health is something I've struggled with all my adult life, with severe episodes of depression on occasion, and after the sudden death of my lovely mum, sustained and intense panic attacks which is when calls to The Samaritans became a literal life-saver for me. I can't thank the volunteers who man these helplines enough, they're amazingly kind, compassionate, understanding people.
Running and especially running on the spectacular South West Coast Path is something that restores my soul and even at my darkest times has helped raise my spirits. This 630 mile route from Minehead to Poole is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, on the 25th anniversary in 1998 I was lucky enough to complete the whole distance in one six week go. That's why I wanted to include the South West Coast Path Association as my third chosen charity and why I wanted my 100th marathon to be on the coast path itself.
It will be the Winding Paths Exe Estuary Marathon on Sunday 16th July. It begins in Dawlish Warren, close to my home town of Torquay, passes through Exeter where I worked for 25 years as a journalist, and finishes in Budleigh Salterton, close to my home in East Devon, where I've lived for the last 36 years. Being local it means many of my fabulous Sidmouth Running Club friends are going to be joining me, go the Mighty Greens!
My first marathon was London 2005 when I was 40, I never intended to carry on running let alone complete another marathon, but the fantastic warmth of the running community and experience of running itself swept me along to my 50th marathon in 2015, and now unbelievably soon to be my 100th.
I've done a lot of charity fundraising in the past through running and other challenges, and people have been so kind and generous, that I don't want to make a big deal about this being a sponsored challenge but equally I couldn't let 2,620 miles pass without promoting these three great causes. I've chosen £780 as my target as I'd like each charity to receive a minimum of £260, but any support you can give would be fabulous, thank you!
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