When Jamie Daniel runs the Athens Marathon on November 12th, he'll be doing something he's spent much of his life avoiding. Here, in Jamie's own words, is why.

"I had always said I would run a marathon if I had a great cause to raise money for. If I am being honest, it had always been a bit of an excuse to get out of doing one! However, when Penny asked me to run the Athens Marathon with her and her brother, my excuses had run out.

The Wessex Neurological Centre (WNC) at Southampton became a pretty familiar place in 2016.  My Mum, Delia, had what they call a Sub-Arachnoid Haemorrhage, and found herself in the ward for the first time that year. The staff were amazing in nursing mum back to health over the subsequent weeks and months.  

Mum had made an almost full recovery last summer then suffered another, separate bleed. This time we weren’t so lucky and we lost Mum in May. The WNC were impeccable at looking after us as a family, and the support and care they gave us at this horrible time was outstanding.

So here I am, 18 months later, embarking on the Athens Marathon, with Penny, to honour the memory of Mum and to raise as much as I can for the WNC who did so much for us as a family. If ever there was a better excuse TO run a marathon, I can’t think of one."

Many thanks Jamie, and If you'd like to pledge your support for Jamie & Penny, please click HERE