10 years after losing his son Mark is still running and still fundraising. He has just completed the 150km West Highland Way, an epic ultra, with breathtaking scenery and for this race alone he raised over £9000 and £27,000 across all his events! Listen to his account of this gruelling event and how he managed to battle to the finish line.

If you'd like to support Mark here's his fundraising page

This is the charity that he is supporting sands.org.uk

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have four channels, one on training support, another on fundraising, a third on runner stories and a fourth on events. If you'd to be the focus on one just let us know using the chat function on the homepage.

PODCAST NOTES

Keywords

running, fundraising, West Highland Way Race, marathon, endurance, charity, community support, recovery, training, personal journey

Summary

In this episode, Tim Rogers interviews Mark Doris, who shares his inspiring journey of running and fundraising for the charity Sands in memory of his stillborn son. Mark recounts his experience in the challenging West Highland Way Race, discussing the physical and mental hurdles he faced, including extreme heat and fatigue. He reflects on the importance of community support in his fundraising efforts, which raised over £9,000, and shares his plans for future races, including the London Marathon. Mark emphasises the significance of raising awareness for baby loss and the impact of his journey on others.

Takeaways

Mark has been running seriously for 10 years to fundraise for Sands. The West Highland Way Race had a high dropout rate due to heat and fatigue. Mark lost over 14 litres of fluid during the race. He faced challenges with appetite and fuelling in the heat. Community support played a crucial role in his fundraising success. Mark raised over £9,000 for Sands, totalling nearly £27,000 over 10 years. He plans to organise a local ribbon run for Baby Loss Awareness Week. Mark's recovery was surprisingly quick after the race. He aims to complete the London Marathon in under 3 hours 30 minutes. Mark emphasises the importance of raising awareness for baby loss.

Titles

Running for a Cause: Mark's Inspiring Journey The Trials of the West Highland Way Race

Sound bites

"I was literally sleeping on my feet." "I raised over £9,000 this time." "The shy children don't get sweets."

Chapters

00:00 Mark's Journey into Running and Fundraising 02:19 The Challenge of the West Highland Way Race 08:33 Navigating the Race: Strategies and Struggles 10:45 Crossing the Finish Line: A Hard-Earned Victory 12:03 Fundraising Success and Community Support 17:14 Recovery and Future Aspirations 21:44 Planning for the London Marathon and Beyond

Mary Keane from Edinburgh first signed up to run the London Marathon for the BackCare charity in 2019. First Covid and then a number of injuries have prevented her from doing so. Now she is back and raring to go in the 2026 event. Follow her progress as she trains and fundraises for this very deserving charity. More episodes to come soon.

You can support Mary by making a donation on her fundraising page here

If you'd like to follow in Mary footsteps and run your next event for Backcare, email Denice denice.loganrose@backcare.org.uk. She'd love to hear from you.

To find out more about Backcare head to https://backcare.org.uk

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have four channels, one on training support, another on fundraising, a third on runner stories and a fourth on events. If you'd to be the focus on one just let us know using the chat function on the homepage.

PODCAST NOTES

• Mary has been rolling over her charity place for the London Marathon for several years due to injuries.
• She chose Back Care UK as her charity because of her personal experiences with back pain.
• Mary is currently training to run consistently 5k and is signed up for the Great North Run.
• The importance of gradually increasing mileage in training to avoid injuries is emphasized.
• Edinburgh offers a variety of terrains for training, which helps keep running fresh and engaging.
• Mary has participated in international races, which provide motivation and a change of scenery.
• Fundraising can be enhanced through community events like pub quizzes and raffles.
• Early planning for fundraising is crucial to avoid competition with other events later in the year.
• Personal connections to the cause can significantly boost fundraising efforts.
• Mary is optimistic about regaining her enjoyment of running and achieving her marathon goal.

• "It's nice to mix it up"
• "It's about giving back"
• "You will get that runner's high again"

Chris has battled through some serious life challenges, including cancer, but he's come out the other side in the best shape of his life. He attributes this to his new found passion for running, fitness and fundraising. Previously a junior elite runner and with a sub 3 hour marathon to his name, running took a back seat while life took over and the silent assassin, stress, became a real issue. On this podcast he talks about the need to find time for ourselves and the importance of prioritising our own physical and emotional wellbeing. It's an emotional listen.

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have four channels, one on training support, another on fundraising, a third on runner stories and a fourth on events. If you'd to be the focus on one just let us know using the chat function on the homepage.

PODCAST NOTES

• Running can be a powerful tool for stress relief.
• Chris's early running journey began in school.
• Injuries can be mismanaged, leading to long-term issues.
• A cancer diagnosis can serve as a wake-up call.
• Setting meaningful goals can drive personal change.
• Fundraising can be a motivating factor for challenges.
• Physical activity is essential for mental wellness.
• Self-care is crucial for overall health.
• Rehabilitation is key to recovery from injuries.
• Finding balance in life is important for well-being.

• Running Through Stress: Chris's Journey
• From Cancer Diagnosis to Fundraising Triumph

• "Running can help alleviate stress."
• "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer."
• "I decided to do a three-day challenge."