Cleankill Technician Chris Summers is celebrating after completing the 2018 London Marathon and helping to raise more than £4,000 for two charities. Chris completed the marathon, said to be the hottest on record, in the impressive time of 6 hours, 42 minutes and 21 seconds.
Chris, an avid runner with the Petts Wood Runners, ran the marathon in aid of two charities: CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young – and Leukaemia UK. He chose these two charities after being moved by the stories of two fathers who had lost their children.
Chris was joined in his efforts by seven other Petts Wood Runners, who were also either running the London marathon or the Brighton marathon. Initially they set their goal at £1,000 and were amazed when they very quickly passed that target. Currently, they have raised £4,032.30 (£4,910.60 including Gift Aid), an amazing total that you can still add to by clicking here.
The stories that inspired Chris included the story of Ben Daniels who collapsed at football training and died three days later in March 2011. Ben was one of many apparently ‘fit and healthy’ young people across the UK who die from undiagnosed heart conditions – on average, 12 a week. CRY raises awareness of this issue and provides screening for young people. It was at one of these screenings at the Petts Wood Runners that Chris met Ben’s father and first thought about raising money during his marathon run.
Shortly after the screening, Chris met the father of Carl Hewson. Another keen sportsman, who ran cross-country for Kent and regularly played for Coney Hall Churches United football team, Carl was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2015. In the UK, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer every 14 minutes. Unfortunately, despite a bone marrow transport, Carl could not beat the aggressive disease and died in November 2016. Leukaemia UK supports those affected and funds innovative and effective research into finding a cure and better treatment for those affected by leukaemia.
Since completing the London Marathon, Chris has already taken part in two long distance runs – the Vitality London 10000 and the Havel 5 – and will soon be competing in the Dorset Invader.
One of Cleankill’s aims is giving back to the community. Chris is just one of many Cleankill employees who willingly give their time to help others in a variety of ways – from dressing as a zombie to being a Scout leader. To learn more about Cleankill’s commitment to the community, click here.