A friend of mine, Dave Johnson has signed up to do the London marathon again… this will be his third outing on the streets of London (well, as a runner, who knows what secret stories he might have to tell about other London exploits!)
Dave is not running just for the fun of it, he is raising money for a number of good causes, as he has done previously. In the last two years he has raised an awe-inspiring amount, of nearly five and a half thousand pounds (£5,4oo) for Childline, Prostate Cancer, Bowel Cancer UK and Alzheimer’s Society. This year his efforts are for the charities ‘Mind’ and ‘Weston Hospicecare.’
Dave’s alter ego is the super tough, Alf Tupper, who has completed the TOUGH TEN CHALLENGE in Weston-super-Mare, a 10 mile, multi-terrain race with a 2 hour time limit.
I would like to share the latest reports on Alf’s progress… and if you should feel inclined to support the charities Dave is running for, you would be helping a lot of people who will appreciate what you could offer.
TOUGH TUPPER TOUGHS TOUGH TEN
“A stroll in the park” says Alf
Report by Dave Johnson
Alf Tupper put in a mighty performance in Weston-super-Mare’s multi-terrain Tough Ten Challenge earlier today that belied his age. The self-styled “Tough of the Track” finished the gruelling event in 1:19:51, his best time in years. “To be honest, it felt like a bit of a stroll in the park” said Alf who is in training for the London Marathon in April and who will also compete in the Bath Half Marathon next weekend.
“I felt good most of the way, apart from feeling the pace after the second ascent through the woods. I soon recovered though to put in a strong finish over the last 2 miles.” In fact, Tupper almost came a cropper as he descended some steps approaching the finish. “I was feeling so strong that I tried taking the steps three at a time and slipped up on my backside. Fortunately, I was up before you could say “Alf Tupper” and it was clear that no serious damage had been done.”
That was obvious to all those watching as Tupper put in a sprint finish that would have impressed the great Usain Bolt.
“I’m happy with my performance today but I’m taking it one race at a time” said Alf as he moves on to Bath and then London. Later on, the press were keen to interview and photograph Alf and an article should appear in a future edition of the Weston Mercury.
“I’m pleased that the world’s press are taking an interest in me, but only because it gives me an opportunity to publicise my London Marathon fundraising” said the modest Alf. “I’m raising money for Mind and Weston Hospicecare, two very worthwhile charities who do a great deal of good work” said Alf.
To learn more about the charities Alf is raising money for, see the article below.
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THE SOFTER SIDE OF THE TOUGH OF THE TRACK
Report by Dave Johnson
Alf Tupper is famous for his running exploits – a no-holds-barred athlete who takes no prisoners when competing in distance races. Only today in Weston-super-Mare’s demanding Tough Ten Challenge, Alf was criticised with a sarcastic “Well done mate” as he overtook two fellow competitors immediately before descending a steep bank during the woodland section of the course.
“He could have been complimenting me on my skills of descent, but he probably thought I was being reckless” said Alf, who later stumbled whilst descending some steps three at a time. “To be honest, if you don’t put everything into trying to achieve your best performance, what’s the point?”.
This hardened attitude can alienate some people but there is another side to the “Tough of the Track”. During two previous London Marathons and a Great North Run, he has raised more than five thousand four hundred pounds for Childline, Prostate Cancer, Bowel Cancer UK and Alzheimer’s Society. This time, as he trains for his third London Marathon in eight years, Alf is supporting the mental health charity Mind and his local charity Weston Hospicecare.
“I have very good reasons for choosing both of these charities and I hope that all of my family, friends and colleagues who have supported me so brilliantly in the past will do so again” said Alf. “People congratulate me on my efforts in racing, particularly with regard to the London Marathon where the training really does take its toll. But I love running and the people that should really be congratulated are those who donate their hard earned money to help others, particularly in these tough financial times”.
So there we have it, the softer side of Alf Tupper, the “Tough of the Track”.
If you would like to support Alf by donating to either Mind and/or Weston Hospicecare, you can do so securely online by visiting:
http://www.justgiving.com/Dave-Johnson5
http://www.justgiving.com/Dave-Johnson
where you can also read about Alf’s reasons for choosing to support those charities.
Thank you for reading,
Dave
Lois Elsden 