Edinburgh’s Lord Provost is on his marks and getting set to tackle 26.2 miles tomorrow when he takes on the Virgin Money London Marathon 2016.
Provost Donald Wilson will join over 53,000 runners, including rugby ace Shane Williams, Top Gear presenter Chris Evans, and Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer in his second year racing to the finish line in The Mall in London.
The first Lord Provost to complete a marathon, he has been in training with his trademark ‘chain’ of office running gear (pictured) and has received almost £4,000 in donations so far.
He is raising funds for his charity, the Lord Provost’s One City Trust Rapid Action Fund. This year, he is in with a chance of becoming the London Marathon’s one millionth finisher – a milestone in the history of the event.
He said: “The marathon might be in London but I’m absolutely running it for Edinburgh. The One City Trust and the Lord Provost’s Rapid Action Fund fights all forms of exclusion in the Capital and it feels good to know all my hard work and training is going to be worth it because it is for such a meaningful charity.
“Like last year, I will just be happy to complete the track but hopefully I’ll be able to beat my time too. The training has been hard but I do feel fitter than last year. I feel very focused and determined and I’m hoping that will see me through. I’m so thankful for the support and donations I’ve received. Wish me luck!”
The One City Trust Rapid Action Fund is the Lord Provost’s charity and aims to fight inequality in Edinburgh. It has provided emergency funds to local organisations such as Get2Gether which helps people with disabilities socialise and build friendships and Bridge8, which provides a gateway to Edinburgh’s outdoors to support disadvantaged young people.
His donation page will remain live until after the race at http://uk.
The marathon will set off from Blackheath and Greenwich Park before passing by some of the most famous areas of London, taking in Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament before finishing on the Mall opposite Buckingham Palace.
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