Michael’s marathon effort to raise £2.2k

A Sydenham man is hoping to raise £2,250 for a national charity by taking part in the London Marathon.

Michael Bagwell will be running the 26.2-mile course in April for Leukaemia Care, a national blood cancer charity.

The 35-year-old assistant manager at the Sylvan Post pub in Forest Hill is running the marathon because his family have been affected by cancer.

Mr Bagwell said, “We have had cancer in the family a number of times, and running the London Marathon for Leukaemia Care jumped out at me as the perfect way to support the fight against cancer, especially as blood cancer is such a horrid strain of the disease.”

This will be his first marathon, having previously taken on the Wimbledon Half Marathon. Although currently recovering from a knee injury, Mr Bagwell said he was looking forward to the big day.

He said, “I have been running casually around the streets of South London for about three years, and thought it was time to put these legs to good use, and see if I could undertake such a physically tough challenge.

“What better place to do that than in the finest city in the world?”

Clare Brooks, who works with the Marathon runners at Leukaemia Care, said, “Our runners make all the difference to people who need that bit of extra support.

“I’ve followed all our runners, including Michael, from the point of sign up and I can’t wait for Michael to cross that finishing line.”

Mr Bagwell’s fundraising total currently stands at £660. If you would like to make a donation you can find him behind the bar of the Sylvan Post, 24-28 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill.

You can also donate online at  https://2018-london-marathon.everydayhero.com/uk/mikey-s-running-the-marathon