Meet Lenny, a dedicated marathon runner and fundraising champion for Save the Children. Since 2018, Lenny has raised over £11,000 to help children change their future for good. We’re excited to feature Lenny in our first Fundraiser Spotlight. Read on to hear Lenny’s inspiring story, top fundraising tips and marathon advice in his own words.
1. What events have you taken part in to support Save the Children UK?
"I have now run 7 different events for Save the Children - Royal Parks Half Marathon 2018, London Marathon 2021, Manchester marathon 2022, Tokyo Marathon 2024, Berlin Marathon 2024, Dublin Marathon 2024 and Valencia Marathon 2024."
2. Why did you choose to support us?
"I may have come across the charity by chance while looking for a place to run Royal parks in 2018. After reading about the charity and the great work that you guys do all over the world - this really struck a chord with me as I had also become a father of two kids myself. This immediately altered my perspective on any aspect that children were seen to suffer, it was unbearable to think of, knowing that could be my kids. What could I do to change that even in some small way? Well, I can run and I can raise money while doing this to support charities like Save the Children."
3. What motivated you to fundraise even when you had a ballot place? Does fundraising for a charity give you a greater sense of purpose throughout your training?
"Yes indeed it does. Why not make every mile I run count? I am going to be running in any case so why not double up the reason for doing so alongside my personal ambitions. It feels selfish to fly halfway across the world (carbon footprint!) to run round in circles for a few hours and then come home again with a shiny new medal with a coloured ribbon to be thrown in a box in a drawer under my bed and quickly forgotten about. I will remember my efforts a lot longer if they were not purely selfish, but that I actually did something useful with this thing I am able to do. Make it count. That piece of metal with a coloured ribbon will shine a lot brighter in my memory knowing that I made some little impact and contribution towards a cause that's close to my heart.
We can sit and watch the daily news in frustration and horror, we can even switch the channel if it's too unbearable to acknowledge and witness from the safety of our own sofa. We can also get up off that sofa and try and do something about it in supporting charities like Save the Children."
4. Where did your running journey begin?
"As far back as I can remember I always loved running as a young kid! As I progressed through my teens and cross country, I then ran my first marathon in Dublin 99'! Fast forward 25 years and 46 marathons later... and counting..."
5. What are your top tips for training for a marathon?
"Embrace it. Enjoy it. Love it. Breathe it all in. Surrender to it! You get back what you put in and it is a life cleansing rewarding experience."
6. Which of the Abbott World Marathon Majors has been your favourite race and what was the most challenging?
"My favourite major has to be Tokyo. I never thought I'd get to do this one and to successfully run it as my last major and get a PB too was the stuff of Hollywood endings! (Even if I don't plan on retiring just yet... 😄).
The most challenging for me was possibly Boston - killer hill on 20 miles aptly named 'Heartbreak hill'!"
7. How did you secure places in the Marathon Majors?
- Boston 2001 - Successful entry
- London 2003 - Ballot
- New York 2007 - Charity place
- Berlin 2019 - Charity place
- London 2021 - Charity place with Save the Children!
- Chicage 2022, London 2022, 2023 and 2024 - Good for Age place
- Tokyo 2024 - international tour company
8. How long did it take to complete them all?
"From my very first to most recent - 23 years! Truth be told I knew nothing about the 6 star challenge until I rocked up in Berlin and saw the Abbott World Majors stand at the race expo."
9. What have you found works best when fundraising?
"You need to pick your moment - as in not too soon after a recent one you've done and doing your best to dodge other people you may work with that may be fundraising at the same time. Also key is confirming the fundraiser to different groups of friends / work colleagues at the different times. Also get a reliable friend to sponsor you first with a nice figure... sets the precedent early on... if not, throw the first one in yourself from 'the family' to get the page going."
10. Any top tips and fundraising ideas for other fundraisers supporting Save the Children ?
"Use every means possible. Email / work colleagues / friend groups. Send an initial email, then send a reminder one a few weeks / month later. Once done, send the finished results thanking 'all' for their generous donations (prompting others into donating that have not!)
Another method towards the end of fundraising is to take a more hardline/direct approach. Thanking everyone for their 'likes' on social media but what Save the Children need is their money, not a round of applause."
11. How do you find asking your network for donations time after time?
"No problem at all. I only need to turn on the news to clear my conscience to know that what I am doing is the right thing to do. Some people genuinely intended to sponsor you, but had forgotten the last time and will do this time."
12. What support from Save the Children helped before, during and after the marathon?
"I enjoyed checking in with Mili (Fundraising Manager at Save the Children UK). It was a pleasure to keep providing updates of the sponsorship as it rose and the encouragement that I received back along with further hints and tips on trying to secure more donations. It was good to put a face to the charity. The thank you cards I received at Christmas and after completing were very personal and heartwarming."
Feeling inspired by Lenny's story? Join Team Save!
