Adam Summers' Introduction (From Dorset Echo)

Adam Summers' Introduction

1:48pm Monday 21st January 2008 in Features By Adam Summers

THREE Weymouth men will take on the biggest challenge of their lives this year by attempting to complete one of the world's most famous endurance races.

Myself, my father John and my brother Jonathon are running the Flora London Marathon on April 13 in aid of the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and we all have a very good reason for reaching the finish line.

On January 26 last year, my mother Teresa Summers died of cancer and two weeks later my auntie Shirley Gomm, my dad's sister, suffered the same fate.

It was a very emotional and difficult time for the whole family and we would not have been able to pull through it had it not been for the care and support given by Weldmar.

Formed by the merger of three well-known and much-respected Dorset charities, Joseph Weld, Trimar Hospice and CancerCare Dorset Trust, Weldmar cares for patients with cancer and other progressive conditions that require specialist help (Charity Registration No 1000414).

The charity covers the West, North and South of Dorset and it offers support and advice either in the comfort of people's own homes, at the day hospice or inpatient care.

As a family we are looking to raise as much money as we can for Weldmar and we would welcome any donations.

So how's the training going? Well, as many of my friends will testify I have never been the best runner and certainly not the quickest but since I started hitting the roads last June the bug has bitten me.

I began by running just short distances three times a week and after a while I started to build the mileage up until I got into a routine of doing six-and-a-half miles on a Monday, three miles on a Wednesday and four miles on a Friday.

I was also playing six-a-side football once a week and turning out for Kingswood FC on a Sunday when the season started up again at the end of the summer.

Before I knew it my fitness levels were improving and in fact I was enjoying it so much that even when I went on holiday I still managed to run in excess of 2.5 miles on 12 days of the fortnight.

It has always been my father's dream to run the London Marathon so the three of us decided to apply for a place in the public ballot, which guarantees 10,000 places.

My other brother Matthew would have also applied but due to injury he will instead support us with our fundraising.

Unfortunately all three of us were unsuccessful in the ballot and that is when we turned to Weldmar who gave us three of their Golden Bond places.

Since then the training has certainly picked up a bit and every Saturday I will keep you informed of how we are all doing. I will also keep you up to date with the progress of our fundraising and the ways in which you can help.

Anyone wishing to sponsor us can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/summers08. The site is simple, fast and totally secure. The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust will also receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28 per cent in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.Cheques made payable to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust can also be sent to Mr J W Summers, 25 Greenway Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5BE.