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The Flora London
Marathon always draws representatives from Dial-a-Cab
who are keen to support their favourite charities - and this
year was certainly no exception. DaC Training Manager Daren Morley, whose photo is on this month’s cover, was one of those successful finishers. He had previously competed in the Great North Run, finishing the world’s biggest half marathon in 1.50.39 following a 16-year absence from running. He then set himself a target to run a marathon before he was 40 – and this was it! Daren, whose chosen charity was Cancer Research UK, told Call Sign: "During my training, I entered several different races and on each occasion took several minutes off my personal best times. I felt ready for the marathon and was hoping for a time of under 4hours 15minutes. The atmosphere is brilliant with very few parts of the course not having spectators. I got to Surrey Quays on target for sub 4-hour marathon and it was there that I passed the Masai warriors who were running to raise money for a well to be dug in their village. They were running with car tyres on their sandals! "Then it was half way at Tower Bridge where the noise from the crowd is unbelievable and incredibly emotional. You try to take it all in whilst maintaining your pace. Onto East Smithfield where my running club and Cancer Research UK had cheering stations, which put an extra spring in my step. Next came the most difficult part of the Marathon - Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf. The Call Centre’s Alex and Bonnie Livingstone were waiting for me on Narrow St with a quick hug and kiss. Bonnie thanked me for covering them in sweat! At Canary Wharf and the 20-mile mark, I was 4 minutes down on a sub 4 hours (what do you expect if you stop for a snog midway…Ed). Then back towards the Tower and a quick hug from my girlfriend Rosie (was this a run or a love in…Ed?). "Then it was all down to the last three miles along the Embankment. I normally love running along that part in training, but this time it felt so long and Big Ben seemed to be |
DAC AND THE 2008 FLORA LONDON MARATHON |
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 Mark Hudson crosses Westminster Bridge |
 Lisa Desborough shows her medal at the end of the Marathon |
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 Phil Hannah with his proud wife and kids at the finish line |
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getting further and further away! Eventually I reached Parliament Square and Birdcage Walk. I’d forgotten how long that was! The crowd keep you going, calling out your name, offering encouragement as you enter The Mall and the finish. Then a huge wave of emotion comes over you. I completed the 26-miles in 4.09.07 and it is an experience I will never forget." Daren raised over £2000 for Cancer Research UK and asked us to thank DaC for their kind donation in addition to all the drivers and members of staff who have sponsored him. If you’d like to sponsor Daren, it’s HERE. John Hudson (W34) saw son Mark complete the Marathon raising £2000 for Children with Leukemia. Mark finished in 4hours 57minutes and is now completing the marathon task of collecting all the sponsorship he and John have been offered by kind cabbies and others. Mark told Call Sign: "I never thought I'd be running a marathon, but all the support and kind words people give really boosts your self confidence. The race was a lot of fun and the crowds carry you through. Towards the end, I thought I was running well - until a Cornish pasty overtook me! At least it wasn’t the running banana!" Mark ran for Children with Leukemia after the family of a close friend were affected by it. Since beginning serious training in February, Mark completed two half marathons, two 18-mile runs, |
two
20-milers and a 22-mile slog. And he gave up booze! If you would like to sponsor Mark, it’s HERE. Another successful finisher was Lisa, daughter of Ron Desborough (P42). She ran to assist the work of the Royal British Legion and also in memory of her grandfather, who had been in the RAF but sadly passed away last October. Lisa trained for 7 months and successfully completed the 26miles in just over 5hours 30minutes raising over £2000 in the process – £500 over her target! Then again, it isn’t that surprising as the licensed cab trade has a great affiliation with ex-services charities. If you’d like to help Lisa, go to HERE. Last of the DaC’s runners was Philip Hannah (K26) who ran in aid of the Lions Hospice, which provides specialist palliative or hospice care for those people with life shortening illnesses in Kent. Phil finished in the good time of 4hours 42minutes. He told Call Sign he was delighted when the runners were suddenly hit by a storm. "It cooled us off beautifully and had it stopped then, it would have been great. But it didn’t - leaving my feet cold and my shorts heavier than when we started!" If you’d like to help the Lions Hospice you’ll find info at HERE. Well done to everybody. It sounds like fun, but the end result means you have to run 26miles – and that’s a long way… |
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