Roland Eglinton, Managing Director of Kent-based Chalkwell Coach Hire, is to run the TCS London Marathon on 23 April to raise funds for the charity WellChild.
When he lines up with 40,000 others next month, Roland will fulfil a long-held ambition to run the one of the world’s most famous marathons. He has previously completed shorter events, such as half-marathons.
Many in the coach and bus industry have already sponsored him via his Just Giving page, which shows he has already raised more than £300 of his £1,600 target.
WellChild is a UK charity for sick children, focusing on try to make it possible for young people with exceptional health needs to be cared for at home rather than in hospital.
He says: “The London Marathon is such an iconic event, and something that I have
aspired to do from a young age. I was originally meant to do it in 2022 but had to withdraw due to getting Covid. These days I spend so much of my time at a desk in virtual meetings, the extra training has given me a greater incentive to get off my feet and get moving.
“I’d like to complete it in under 4hrs 30 minutes, but more importantly I want to enjoy the experience at the same time. WellChild is a great charity and I’m very happy to be raising money for them.”
Chalkwell Coach Hire, which is a family-run business founded in 1931, runs bus services in Swale and Isle of Sheppey as well as catering for social clubs, businesses, schools, universities, day trippers and sports groups.
He is training four times per week from 40 minutes to three hours at a time, with a longest run of around 20 miles, and is doing his best to fit the preparation around a busy work and family schedule.
He trains lunchtime and, although he has treadmill at Chalkwell’s Sittingbourne HQ for when the weather is bad, he enjoys getting out and running around his bus routes.
“Quite often my routes will intersect bus routes around the area that we operate so it gives me a different of keeping an eye on what’s going on,” he says.
