A man from Stonehouse will be running the London Marathon in April to raise funds for international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary.
Luke Roche, 32, wanted to honour the memory of his late grandad by supporting a cause that was close to his heart, and has chosen to take on the iconic event around the streets of the capital on 27 April.
His grandad, Roger, sadly passed a few years ago, but his love of donkeys and his support of The Donkey Sanctuary inspired the Business Development Manager to take on the ultimate running challenge.
Headquartered in Devon, The Donkey Sanctuary relies entirely on donations. The charity operates all over the world, working tirelessly to improve the lives of donkeys every day, and Luke is one of six runners raising funds at the event in just a few months’ time.
By his own admission, Luke’s running history is limited, and before starting his marathon training had never run more than a few Parkruns. But as part of his preparations for London, he completed a half marathon last October, meaning his training is well on track for April.
Having two young children and a ‘needy’ Irish terrier named Lenny, balancing his work and home life with a busy training schedule can be a challenge, but fortunately Luke has tremendous support from his fiancée Beth.
On visiting the sanctuary in Devon last year, Luke said: “Seeing the incredible care and dedication the teams provide every day, made a lasting impression on me, and I knew I wanted to contribute to such a meaningful cause in my grandad’s memory.
“My grandad loved donkeys and The Donkey Sanctuary, he even adopted Zena and chose the sanctuary as his funeral charity – a reflection of how much he believed in the work of the charity. He always said, ‘Donkeys deserve to be loved,’ a sentiment that has stayed with our family.”
Luke’s sister, Tash, has continued their grandad’s legacy by continuing Zena’s adoption, ensuring she is supported and cared for, and so the charity can reach more donkeys in need.
The first London Marathon took place in 1981 and is now one of the most popular marathons in the world. Starting in Greenwich, more than 50,000 runners take in some of the capital’s most well-known landmarks, including the Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, before finishing on The Mall 26.2 miles later.
Rose Huxham, Community Fundraising Officer at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “We’re super proud of Luke for going the extra 26 miles for donkeys by running the London Marathon in April.”
Luke added: “The London Marathon has been on my bucket list for years, and to finally take part while supporting my grandad’s favourite charity makes this moment even more special.
’I’ll be thinking of my grandad and Zena every step of the way on marathon day.”
To keep updated on Luke’s progress, and to support him, please visit his Just Giving page HERE.
