After having volunteered with VSO in Malawi early in his career Returned Volunteer Alan Beadle has come full circle and completed the Virgin London marathon raising funds for VSO. Read Alan’s story below.
Last October VSO sent round an email asking for volunteers to run the Virgin London Marathon for them. I invited my daughter Anna to join me but she declined saying she was “otherwise occupied that weekend,” but that Rich, her husband, would love to do it.
A few months later we discovered the reason. She was expecting her first baby due in May - sounds a good reason for not running a marathon! Rich and I started pounding pavements; me around Knowle and Solihull and Rich where they live in France. We exchanged our successes and failures as we worked our way gradually building the times and distance.
With only three days to go Anna went into labour, three weeks early. It was agreed that by Saturday morning Rich would be on the plane to come and run with beautiful Mia’s name emblazoned on his T-shirt.
Sunday dawned grey, chilly and damp. After a last meal of porridge and bananas (I never want to see another one) we made the short walk up to Greenwich Park.
We met some the other VSO runners for a photo shoot overlooking the spectacular view of London – you could see almost the whole course from here and it was DAUNTING!
Then it was time to get into the pens for the mass start – I had never run with so many people before (38,000); it was claustrophobic and exciting all in the same moment. There was a huge buzz in the air; everyone was nervous with the anticipation.
Over the public address system we heard the elite runners being set off – everyone cheered. Then there was another huge cheer, the entrances to the pens had been closed creating space for us to move up and it was soon our turn.
We were OFF!!!!
Well sort of, we could shuffle no faster than the rest of the pack because of the sheer numbers. Everywhere we were hemmed in by the crowds that spilled off the pavements into the road – 3, 4, 5 … 10 deep, cheering and shouting encouragement and the names of the runners.
The crowds are what everyone tells you about, but nothing had prepared me for this – they were AMAZING! The boost they gave me was just awesome and to be honest, it was probably the crowds that got me round and over the finish line. The support was hugely emotional and almost physical; I could feel my stride lengthening every time someone shouted my name. The children in the crowds held their hands out as you went past for a “high-five”; trays of sugary sweets, orange slices, etc. were proffered by complete strangers; there was disco music blaring out of houses and brass bands outside almost every pub.
My family was there to support me on the streets. VSO had set up camp at mile 24 for a final cheer - at that point my legs were numb with fatigue and it was hard to lift my eyes off my feet, this was just what I needed to get me through the last few miles.
Turning into the Mall and seeing the big red arch over the finish line was a wonderful thing – all those months of training, all those moments of doubt (will these old legs go the distance?) were put away – YES, I had done it!!!!
I did this for VSO who started me on my career when I went out to Malawi. Only a few days ago there was a devastating earth quake in Nepal, one of the countries where VSO works. Though my work as a volunteer is over, the job in countries like Nepal is not done. Our support will be needed for years to come. Hopefully, one day we can hang up our boots and say – “We have worked ourselves out of a job.”
Update by VSO:
Alan has raised nearly £5,000 through his fundraising efforts and we’d like to say a huge thank you to Alan, Rich (and Anna & Mia) and all our fantastic London marathon runners for their amazing fundraising achievements.
You can read more about Alan’s experience as a VSO volunteer in Malawi and help him reach £5,000 via his Just-Giving page.
More 2015 London Marathon photos
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