News & blogs Meet Team Enham's London Marathon runners Support our amazing Team Enham Runners as they take on the 2023 TCS London Marathon We’re over the moon that 14 of our fantastic supporters will be running the iconic TCS London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April 2023 to raise vital funds for essential Enham Trust services for disabled people. Together, they aim to raise nearly £25,000 which will make a huge difference to disabled people’s lives! As the big day draws closer, we wanted to share some of their inspiring stories. If you would like to show your support, you can donate by following the link to each runners’ fundraising page alongside their story. To hear how Team Enham did on the day, make sure you’re following our Facebook and Twitter accounts and sign up to receive our newsletter by emailing [email protected]. Thank you so much! Click on each runner’s picture to read their story… Amy's story “The training for a marathon is always a mixture of hard and fun…but it is so worth it knowing that the fundraising will help such a deserving charity.” I have worked with The Enham Trust over the years in my capacity as a barrister specialising in housing. When I saw the opportunity to fundraise for Team Enham I jumped at the chance as I know first-hand how amazing their support and services are to the disabled community and their families. I have enjoyed long distance running for about 6 years, turning to running about 7 years ago as a way to get some ‘me time’ as I juggle working full time and a household of four children aged 10 to 16, one dog and four guinea pigs! I ran Liverpool Rock n Roll marathon 2021 and really enjoyed it and tend to run half marathons every other weekend anyway even when not training. I mostly run with friends, and we treat the run as way to chat and catch up on the week’s events. I’m on a high mileage training plan and have only one 20 mile run left before the big day. I am really excited to run for Team Enham. The training for a marathon is always a mixture of hard and fun, the dedication needed to get up early in the morning so I am still available to do all the usual daily activities one needs to do but it is so worth it knowing that the fundraising will help such a deserving charity. Support Amy As well as asking for your support and sponsorship, Amy is working hard to meet her fundraising goal by hosting a Guess the Name of the Elephant Raffle and running her own virtual challenge event! Colleen's story “My life's work has been assisting and supporting those with disabilities and their families.” My life's work has been assisting and supporting those with disabilities and their families. Earlier in my career I worked with educators to ensure that my clients were getting their needs met in the school setting. Currently, I work with families to help secure fulfilling and happy futures for their loved ones. This will be my 4th World Major Marathon. I have been a lifelong runner but ran my first marathon at age 50 during the pandemic. I'm lucky to have a great group to run with that inspire and motivate me! It’s said that when Pheidippides finished the first marathon he said "rejoice, we conquered". Life is full of struggles, and I try to rejoice every day for all of the little things we conquer. Looking forward to rejoicing after London with you all! Support Colleen As well as asking for your support and sponsorship, Colleen has secured a key donation from her employer, and will be doing more fundraising with 2 friends who are also running this year for Team Enham! Erin's story “…making sure that [disabled people] feel valued, driven, and rarely lonely…For me, this is the greatest kindness we can show to others.” I've worked with Special Olympics for years, as a paddleboard coach and mentor. Most of my athletes live, work, or find a majority of their social outlets and life skills coaching through a group called MARC House. The aim of MARC is to ensure the holistic health of these individuals - making sure that not only are their bodies getting exercise, but that they feel valued, driven, and rarely lonely. I see Enham Trust taking on very similar directives. For me, this is the greatest kindness we can show to others. It's so so so important, but often overlooked as we strive to just meet basic needs. Enham seems to go above and beyond in that regard. I may live across the ocean, but I know the impact that groups like Enham can have on an individual's life, and by extension, on an entire community. I'm honored to support Team Enham. This is my third marathon. I ran Chicago and New York (both for Special Olympics). I just started running during Covid, right before I turned 40. I'm almost 43 now and have no desire to be fast. I'm just proud to toe the line and hopefully finish! For me, the process is everything. Running almost every day forces some structure, and some quiet time, into my very hectic work schedule (I'm an Artistic Director/Events Manager). Engaging with a charity adds a level of commitment and substance for me - forcing me to get out there even when it's tough. To prepare, I'm sticking to a plan and making the miles happen! Support Erin As well as asking for your support and sponsorship, Erin is organising several events to reach her fundraising goal including raffles and a gin tasting event! Jonathan's story “…supporting people with disabilities in their communities is a very worthy cause in my book.” My new goal with this marathon madness is to try and run all of the world majors. But qualifying and pure luck are not the best way to go. I am no stranger to fundraising and supporting causes that are important to me and supporting people with disabilities in their communities is a very worthy cause in my book. I was fortunate to find out from a previous Team Enham runner about [Enham Trust] and get involved that way! I am following a marathon training plan from a local running store/group that I have followed before leading me to a strong finish at my last marathon in Berlin. London will be my 5th marathon since 2020 when I started running longer distances. I am honoured and very excited to be running the London Marathon for Enham Trust, running with friends for an amazing cause. Also, my partner will be joining me on this adventure, and she has been fortunate enough to get in running under Team Alzheimers UK (a cause very near to her and family), and we both cannot wait to cross the finish line together in April! We are a bit of a crazy running couple but truly enjoy sharing that time and challenge together. Support Jonathan As well as asking for your support and sponsorship, Jonathan is working towards his fundraising target by hyping it up on social media and through friends and colleagues and getting sport-related donations from local businesses to raffle at a small fundraising event! Lisa's story “…many of my patients with special needs benefit from programs like this.” Team Enham’s mission is to support people with disabilities to live life to the fullest with a focus on independence. As a primary care physician (US equivalent to GP) many of my patients with special needs benefit from programs like this. My job is often supporting people by identifying resources that enable independence. I run 5 days a week. This will be my 6th marathon. I have run 4 NYC marathons (local race). This will be my second international. I ran Berlin Marathon in 2022. [A friend and 2022 Team Enham runner] was a past supporter who ran Berlin and London marathon a week apart in 2022. She reported London marathon was the party of the year. Looking forward to returning to London and seeing it in a whole new way. Support Lisa Lisa is asking for your support and sponsorship and says “the key to my fundraising is like my key to running: persistence and patience”. Thank you to every single one of our Team Enham London Marathon 2023 Runners. You are incredible! #TOGETHERweDoAmazing Manage Cookie Preferences