Meet the London Marathon runners of the Maidenhead area

Runners taking part in the TCS London Marathon are limbering up for the big race on Sunday. We spoke to some of the entrants from our area about their preparations for the event, their motivation and who they are raising funds for.

Joseph Freeman

The impact of the Dyslexia Research Trust on the life of 18-year-old Pinkneys Green runner Joseph Freeman cannot be understated.

Growing up Joe struggled to understand why he could not form simple sentences like his peers and would often stare at a blank sheet of paper having no idea what to do.

In 2008, the Reading-based charity diagnosed him with dyslexia in what proved to be a milestone moment in his life.

Joe said: “It reassured me that I wasn’t just stupid, to put it bluntly.

“It’s given a reason for me to work out what’s best for me and how to live with myself.”

Keen runner Joe, who studied at Claires Court Senior School and Sir William Borlase’s sixth form, will now be taking on his first marathon to support the vital work of the Dyslexia Research Trust.

Visit The Dyslexia Research Trust: Joey Goes to the Marathon (enthuse.com) to donate.

Sarah Parfitt

A Cookham Rise resident is set to run the London Marathon in memory of her father, who passed away last month.

Sarah Parfitt ran her first London Marathon as a fun runner in 2003 and has since taken part in 14 marathons across the world, including in New York, Kathmandu, Vienna, and Berlin.

But after giving up seven years ago, following a knee operation, she is now set to take on her 15th marathon this Sunday in memory of her dad Ron Parfitt, who passed away in March at the age 91.

Sarah said: “I wanted to do something positive. He was a very positive, very resilient sort of man and I thought it would be really nice to do something positive at a difficult time.”

“It’s going to be quite an emotional one.

“I said to my mum, I think he’s going to be running with me the whole way.”

She is aiming to raise £3,000 in total – £1,000 for each of the three causes she is supporting.

These include PFC Ethiopia where she is a trustee and is fundraising to support the children at Basso Primary School to provide the youngsters at the breakfast club with breakfast every day until summer.

Sarah is also fundraising for Maidenhead Foodshare to help support those in the community, and Brighter Futures at the Great Western Hospital, which helped her dad in the days before he died.

She would like to put a bench in the outside area of the hospital in memory of her dad.

Visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarahparfitt2023 

Ryan Brownlie

Ryan Brownlie, 31, lives in Maidenhead and is a firefighter at Heathrow Airport.

He is running the marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity.

His mother, who also lives in Maidenhead, was diagnosed with two brain tumours at the beginning of the year.

Ryan has completed many endurance events and is ready to move onto ‘the next challenge’ in the form of the London Marathon.

“I am also running to raise money for her go fund page as she is struggling to receive the treatment she needs on the NHS due to challenges and struggles the NHS is currently having,” he said.

“She is having to try and fund the operation herself to have the tumours removed.”

See the fundraising page at gofund.me/43f71beb

Maddie Hebbourne

Maddie Hebbourne, 23, of Boyn Hill is running for Brain Research UK in support of her boyfriend’s mum and a family friend, both of whom have battled brain tumours.

It was ‘extremely scary for everyone’ when her boyfriend’s mum was diagnosed and brain tumour charities ‘really supported her,’ Maddie said.

“I needed another push for the marathon and I thought, what better way than by giving back as much as I can?” she said.

Maddie began running during COVID and enjoyed the challenge.

Her longest has been 21 miles (about 33km) which was her most difficult run, battling through rain, puddles up to her shins and deep mud. This will be her first full marathon.

“I’d be lying if I said my stomach wasn’t doing somersaults,” Maddie said. “The thought that is pushing me away from nervousness is imagining the finish line.

Donate to Maddie’s cause at 2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/maddie-hebbourne

George Clifton and George Jensen

Childhood friends George Clifton and George Jensen will be leaning on each other for support as they take on their first marathon on Sunday.

The duo grew up together and both attended Furze Platt Senior School.

Last month they laced up their trainers and took on the Paris Half Marathon, matching each other stride for stride around the French capital.

Their attention now turns to Sunday’s daunting 26.2 mile challenge.

George Clifton, 22, told the Advertiser: “In Paris we were running next to each other the whole way and did the exact same times.

“I think we’re both good with each other and Sunday will be similar to Paris.

“Training has been made a lot easier with someone.”

The pair will be running in aid of Whizz-Kidz, a children’s wheelchair disability charity.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/george-clifton-tcs-london-marathon-2023-charity-place  or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/george-jensen to donate.

Giles Cuthbert

A man from Flackwell Heath will be running the London Marathon with a toilet in tow to raise awareness and funding for diabetes.

Giles Cuthbert will be taking to the streets of London while pushing a porcelain toilet – weighing about 40kg – to raise awareness of the early warning signs of diabetes and to fundraise for Diabetes UK.

The 57-year-old’s two sons Harvey, 19, and Theo, 15, are both Type 1 diabetics, and he is hoping that his efforts can contribute in some form towards helping to find a cure.

Giles said: “One of the earliest warning signs of Type 1 is having to spend a penny very frequently. So me pushing a toilet will help raise awareness.

“I would happily trade places with my boys but sadly this is not an option, so the best I can do is help raise much needed funds to aid in the research of finding a cure.”

Giles is hoping to smash his £3,000 target for the charity through his JustGiving page, which currently stands at almost £1,000.

He added: “If we could get a breakthrough so they can just lead a normal life without having to inject every single day, at every mealtime. I take my hat off to them with what they’re putting up.”

Visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Giles-Cuthbert11 

Robert Richards

Robert Richards, from Maidenhead, will be running to raise money for Child Bereavement UK.

The 44-year-old lost his mother to cancer in 1995 when he was just 16 years old.

He said: “I’ve grown up into adulthood realising that there really wasn’t anybody beyond teachers and some family friends to help us – which we were lucky to have – but there are plenty of people out there that aren’t as fortunate as I was.

“It is a great advancement that CB UK is now there to provide support in the toughest of circumstances.”

Robert is approaching £4,500 in sponsorship and hopes to reach £5,000.

For more information visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/robert-richards8 

Anthony Hornby

Maidenhead-based Anthony Hornby, a former pupil of both Speech and Language UK’s Meath School and Dawn House School, is set to run the London Marathon in aid of Speech and Language UK – a charity that supports children with talking and understanding words.

Anthony is being supported with his training by Maidenhead Athletic Club.

This will be the sixth time Anthony has run a marathon.

“Before I went to Meath School, it wasn’t easy for me to make friends or tell people what I was thinking or feeling,” Anthony said,

“The teachers from both schools were really helpful and they taught me loads of amazing stuff to help me in the future. When I left school, I was in tears about how much I was going to miss it.

“I decided to do the London Marathon once again for Speech and Language UK to say thanks for all the help they gave to me.”

Find Anthony’s fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/anthony-hornby1 

Kirsty Matthews

Kirsty Matthews, 25, of Cookham has a championship place in this year’s marathon, having earned herself this place in the last one.

This means she will be among those just behind the elite runners at the front of the marathon.

It is Kirsty’s fourth marathon and third time in the London one. Training has gone well but it has been a challenge to juggle it with her other athletic passion, football.

“I would like to get sub-three hours 15 but my [main] aim is always to enjoy it because it’s a long way to be doing something you’re not enjoying,” Kirsty said.

“I’m really excited and checking the weather apps every couple of hours, because that can make or break a marathon.”

Angus Henderson

Angus Henderson, from Bourne End, will be running in support of Starlight Children’s Foundation.

This will be his third attempt at taking on the race. He was originally going to run in 2020 but it was cancelled due to COVID.

Angus wanted to attempt again in 2022 but was unable due to a broken collarbone.

Angus said: “I’m hoping to make it to the start line and eventually the finish line, but getting to the start line has been the first challenge.”

Angus’ JustGiving page can be found at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/angushenderson 

Ashley Dunnicliffe

Ashley Dunnicliffe, a 42-year-old personal trainer from Maidenhead, will be running the London Marathon to raise money for SSAFA, the armed forces charity.

Ashley said: “Being an ex-household cavalry physical training instructor, I have seen first hand the impact and stress levels, operational and cermonial duties have on army personnel and their loved ones.

“SSAFA is an excellent armed forces charity. It helps serving personnel, veterans and their families with support during their time of need, whether that's practical, emotional or financial support.”

Ashley’s marathon donation page can be found here: 2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/ashley-dunnicliffe 

For more information, visit his website www.adhealthandfitness.co.uk