Long Sutton teaching assistant to take on London Marathon

A teaching assistant hopes to beat her previous time when she takes part in the London Marathon for the second time in aid of a charity which supports young wheelchair users.

Lauren Day, 36, of Long Sutton, is running the 26.2-mile course to raise funds for Whizz-Kidz, which creates opportunities for young wheelchair users to get the equipment, skills, and confidence to go further in life.

Lauren first ran the London Marathon back in 2017, when she completed the course in four hours and nine minutes. She hopes to cross the finish line in under four hours when she takes it on again on Sunday, April 21.

“Training is going really well – I only started properly four weeks ago when I found out I’d actually got a place,” says Lauren, who works at Tydd St Mary Primary School and is also a gymnastics coach. “I’d always wanted to run this race again; I’ve been entering the ballot every year but never got a place. Then I had a phone call from Whizz-Kidz, which still had some charity places left, so I applied on the Friday morning and was accepted before the end of the day!”

Lauren now needs to raise £1,800 for her cause and is already well on her way thanks to sponsorship and fundraisers, including an adults gymnastics night at Holbeach and Fenland Gym Club and an Easter raffle.

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“It’s been tough trying to fundraise and train, but everyone has been so supportive,” she added. “The next few weeks will be hard trying to fit my training in around work as at the moment when I get home, it’s still dark.

“But there are a few people from the Three Counties Running Club, of which I’m a member, who also have places, so I have people to train with.

“I’ve got a 20-mile run at the weekend, so we’re going to do a few loops where people can join in and run as far as they want. This year I’m hoping to finish the marathon in under four hours and just enjoy it – well that’s the plan!

“I can’t really remember much from the first time - I don’t remember passing the Cutty Sark or Big Ben, I found it all quite overwhelming.

“I think that can be the case when you’ve never done it before. I’ve taken part in a few more races since then, including the virtual London Marathon during Covid, in 2022, and a some half marathons and 10Ks, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

*You can sponsor Lauren via her Just Giving page - justgiving.com/page/lauren-day-1706910911560

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