Keen runner and Business Development Manager of Promethean in Northern Ireland, Nigel Johnston has been preparing to achieve his lifetime ambition of competing in the London Marathon 2017, all in the name of charity – Hope for Youth NI.
Hope for Youth NI is a Northern Ireland based charity which aims to bring children together and help them learn to work together to learn new skills, build friendships and develop their confidence in a safe environment. Founded in 1972, the year Nigel was born, the charity was founded by Bear Grylls’ grandmother, with a host of famous patrons including Bear Grylls, Joanna Lumley and The Archbishop of Canterbury.
“Raised during the troubles in Northern Ireland, I have seen and experienced the difficulties children face trying to be a part of a community, which is why I think Hope for Youth NI is such a great cause. As a father of two, I want to make sure my children are brought up in an inclusive society and I love the positive work that the charity is doing”, explains Nigel.
Nigel is no stranger to marathons. In May 2015 he ran the Belfast City Marathon and raised an impressive £3.5k for Cancer Research UK in memory of his late mother Ruby who sadly passed away from Breast Cancer the previous year. Unfortunately, Nigel suffered an injury during the marathon which meant he didn’t complete the marathon in the time he was hoping for, but is determined this time, things will be different. “Running the London Marathon, is not only something I have always wanted to do, but it’s an opportunity to defeat some demons and have a positive experience in doing something I love. My family are planning to come over to London that weekend to support me so it should be a special weekend.”
Nigel’s training is well under way too, with 82 parkruns completed (many of which he completed with one of his daughters) with the hope of reaching 100 before the marathon in April 2017.
You can follow Nigel’s training progress on his running blog “My London Marathon Journey” where you can keep up to date on his training. Plus, if you would like to donate money to this wonderful cause, you can visit Nigel’s Virgin Money Giving Page here and support his run on 23rd April 2017.