A WESTBURY man is just one week away from the starting line up of the Bournemouth Marathon; the first of three tough races he is preparing to run for charity.
Grant Savides is running the Bournemouth Marathon this year and the London Marathon and Bristol Half Marathon next year, to raise money for the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity.
Although not an experienced runner, Grant has already ran the Bath Half Marathon this year, but wanted to continue fundraising by running.
“I chose to run marathons purely to raise funds,” Grant said. “Running these races isn’t for me it’s for a bigger cause. It’s for a champion who gives up their time to look after others or it’s for a hero who chooses to get on with life despite a disability. My motivation to complete the races I have signed up for is to raise more money than I did before, which will give something back to a charity I admire.
“I firmly believe that we are all created equal and that we as a human race should not judge, shame or discriminate because of colour, sex, religion or disability. Being different should be embraced and not something to be ashamed of. A disability does not make a person different, they breathe air like I do and bleed like I do.
“The volunteers give up so much of their free time and the charity administrators at Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) really care. What I am doing, and the small amount I am trying to raise, is very minuscule in the context of how much money this charity needs a year to stay afloat.”
Grant hopes to raise £2,000 from the Bournemouth Marathon and a further £2,000 – £3,000 from the Bath Half and London Marathon.
“My son thinks I am his hero for helping others and I keep telling him that the people at LCD are my heroes. He might be too young to understand now but I hope one day he will, and he realises the lesson that I am trying to teach him.”
To donate, visit www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ Grant-Savides
