An Oswestry man is preparing to run his first London Marathon next year – raising funds for a county advocacy charity.
Alex Morley, 36, a DEXA reporter at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, ran his first full marathon in Manchester earlier this year and now has his sights firmly set on the London Marathon with the goal of raising as much money as possible for Shropshire PCAS (Peer Counselling & Advocacy Service) in Oswestry.
The London Marathon not only marks a debut for Alex, but will also be the first time that Shropshire PCAS has had a competitor running for the charity at the event. Alex has a target of £2,200 and has set up a JustGiving page where people can donate.
Alex is also set to run the Shrewsbury half-marathon on Sunday to kick start the fundraising for Shropshire PCAS.
The charity was founded more than 30 years ago and provides independent advocacy and support to disabled and vulnerable adults across Shropshire – including many who have no family, no support network and nowhere else to turn.
Alex said: “It is a brilliant local charity and it will be an honour to run the London Marathon for them next April. I want to raise as much money as possible and hope people will support me by making a donation.
“It’s a very worthy cause and every penny donated will go towards making such a difference to the lives of people that benefit from the amazing work carried out by the Shropshire PCAS team.
“I have been impressed with the important work the charity is doing in the community – both in and around Oswestry and more generally across Shropshire. I have been invited to go in and meet some of the people that work there and their clients and I have a genuine feeling that Shropshire PCAS is a family-friendly charity – one I am delighted to help through my marathon run.”
Alex moved to Oswestry with his partner in June and started working as a DEXA reporter at the orthopaedic hospital in July. He had previously worked at a doctors’ surgery in Craven Arms.
“I ran a half-marathon in Cardiff last year, I’m taking part in the Shrewsbury half-marathon on Sunday September 27th – which I am also running for Shropshire PCAS – and will be running another half-marathon in Valencia at the end of October,” said Alex.
“My first full marathon was Manchester in April which went really well and I came in with a time of just over four hours. I am targeting a minimum £2,200 for London next year and have already set up my Just Giving page for that one.
“Friends and work colleagues are already supporting me with fundraising ideas to help get me over the line but I really hope that people reading this will follow the link and make a donation. It would mean so much to me and those people being helped by Shropshire PCAS.”
Elaine Wright, spokeswoman at Shropshire PCAS, said: “We are extremely grateful to Alex for taking on the London Marathon on our behalf. It is something new for the charity as we haven’t had a representative running the event for us before.
“We know just how difficult the present economic climate is for everyone right now but we hope that people will donate if they are able via the JustGiving page set up by Alex. We rely heavily on fundraising activities, donations and sponsorship to continue the vital work we are doing across Shropshire. Any donation would be greatly appreciated.”
Shropshire PCAS advocates regularly support people who are struggling with complex combinations of housing problems, safeguarding concerns, health issues, financial difficulties and severe loneliness. This can include help with social care assessments, health appointments, housing concerns, benefits, safeguarding matters and accessing other services.
Donations to Alex’s London Marathon JustGiving page can be made by visiting
https://www.justgiving.com/page/alex-morley-2?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL
For more about Shropshire PCAS, visit www.shropshirepcas.co.uk.
Alex Morley with Simon Arthur from Shropshire PCAS as Alex prepares to run the Shrewsbury half marathon and next year’s London Marathon to raise funds for the charity.
