Alan gets set for London Marathon to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust

An enthusiastic runner from international insurance provider, ArgoGlobal, is getting ready to fasten up his laces ahead of the UK’s most iconic marathon to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust.

37 year old Claims Operation Manager, Alan Poynter, from Dartford, will join 19 other runners in this month’s Virgin Money London Marathon to raise vital funds for The Sick Children’s Trust – a charity that supports families with seriously ill children in hospital with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation.

Alan will tackle the 26.2 mile route as part of ArgoGlobal’s two year partnership, during which the company has already surpassed its fundraising target of £50,000 to help the charity continue to run its ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country. Alan, who hopes to raise £2,000 through this personal challenge, says:

“I am very honoured to be running for The Sick Children’s Trust. Being a parent, I am deeply moved by the support this charity offers families with sick children.

“I have completed a marathon before, but I was younger, fitter and a couple of stone lighter! During training, I have often asked myself ‘what have I let myself in for?’ but then I remember why I’m doing it. Every mile is to help more families with a seriously ill child stay together in the ‘Home from Home’ accommodation that The Sick Children’s Trust runs.

“Training has been hard, especially as I’ve been sleep-deprived following the arrival of my little boy in January! But I know when the day comes, all the hard work will have paid off and when it gets tough I will think of my wife and how supportive she has been, all those who have sponsored me and all the parents, brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles who are spending the day with their loved one in hospital.”

The Sick Children’s Trust supports around 4,000 families every year in free, high quality ‘Homes from Home’ at the country’s leading paediatric hospitals. Although the accommodation is provided free of charge to families, it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night. Victoria McElhinney, Events Officer at The Sick Children’s Trust, says:

“Alan’s been training really hard over the last few months and has achieved so much! We know that he’s been out in all kinds of weather in order to get the mileage under his feet and has been proudly wearing his #TeamSCT vest!

“With Alan’s support and fundraising, we can be there for more families, easing some of the stresses and worries that come with having a seriously ill child in hospital by giving them a ‘Home from Home’ just a few minutes’ walk from their loved one’s bedside.

“We’d like to thank Alan so much for taking on the marathon for us – and we will be there cheering him on as he makes his way round the course!”

To support Alan, please visit his fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alan-poynter2

For further information about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit: http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/