This weekend in London, 50,000 of the 500,000 runners who applied will run the 26.2 miles of the London Marathon. It will be the culmination of hundreds of hours of training for each runner, many long, lonely cold, and wet hours through the winter, getting their minds and bodies ready for this moment.
Since it began in 1981, London Marathon runners have raised over £1billion for charities worldwide through their efforts. Most runners and those who generously sponsor them will never meet those who benefit from their fundraising. We often sponsor someone we know, sometimes sponsor in memory of someone we knew, but we rarely do we know those who directly benefit from our philanthropy.
Many runners like our youngest daughter Freya, who we’ll be cheering on, have chosen to use their place to raise money and awareness for the causes they believe in. If you haven’t sponsored anyone in this year’s London Marathon, please consider supporting Young Minds with her.
Others run specifically for a charity, fundraising in return for a place. For two London Marathons, the Skipper ran for Victa, a charity helping sight-impaired youngsters and their families. Last year, I walked/jogged a virtual London Marathon on the towpaths of Northamptonshire for MIND – something I couldn’t have achieved in the day without Freya, Jonny, and the Skipper’s support or without the support of everyone who spurred me on through their generous donations.
We couldn’t be here to support Freya if it wasn’t for Steve’s brother Peter, giving up his chance to hurtle miles round London from support station to support station clutching Fruit Pastilles for our heroine and other runners!
He’s giving his time this weekend to share with Steve supporting their 93 year old Mum (who’s given to us all for years in so many ways). Freya’s given her time for months to prepare, and along with the rest of the family who are heading to London, we’re giving her our loud and unfailing support on her inspirational marathon. We’re also supporting Young Minds through her to continue their vital work with young people and parents.
It’s rewarding to give to those we know, but why is it that giving seems even more rewarding if we have no expectation of repayment or of ever knowing those to whom we give?
John Bunyan was right when he said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
This week we’ve both given blood as we regularly do – an armful always seems so little to give when you understand that according to Blood.co.uk just giving up an hour of your time and one donation could save 3 lives.
We hear where our blood has gone, which hospital it’s been sent to, but never know those our gifts have benefited, and that doesn’t matter. It feels like a gift to us to know we’ve made a difference somewhere, sometime, to someone who needs it. Maybe it’s a health bonus for us too – after all blood letting used to be a medical cure for many ills
For years, I couldn’t give blood, I’m so grateful that finally I’ve managed it. Don’t give up if that applies to you, too.
On the subject of a different kind of red stuff , I’ve ended another giving up this week. It seems to me 100 days without an alcohol calls for a celebratory glass of red this weekend! Cheers 🍷!
Pickingupducks 