Earlier in April, two of my colleagues and I embarked on one of the toughest challenges each of us have ever faced in our lives – running the Paris Marathon.
The opportunity was presented to us through our partnership with the brilliant charity Demelza, a children’s hospice based in Kent that delivers care to children and young people and their families with serious or life-limiting conditions.
Demelza held a number of spaces for the 2025 Paris Marathon and despite only signing up in October, all three of us became dedicated to training and are proud to say that we are Paris Marathon completionists!
None of us were big runners before we started our journeys. I personally hadn’t done any form of running for well over 10 years, but took on the challenge because I really like the work the charity does.
We were set a goal of raising £950 each, and thankfully we were all able to exceed our target, raising a total of £3802!
Here’s what Justyna, Milo and I had to say about our experience in training, the marathon itself and fundraising for Demelza:
Justyna:
In October 2024, I couldn’t even run 1K — but this month, I completed the Paris Marathon for Demelza. I never imagined I could do it, but pushing myself for such an incredible charity made every step worth it. Thank you to Comparison Tech, my amazing colleagues, and friends for all your support!
Milo:
Training for the marathon has been a great push to get out and exercise again. Running also provided a space for me to reflect on how lucky I am, and how important charities like Demelza are. I 100% believe that anyone could meander through a marathon and I recommend it to anyone considering it; I’ve seen all of Paris and spent one night there.
Johnnie:
Having never been much of a runner, I had no idea what to expect with this challenge, but I was ready to do what I could in the name of a good cause. I’m proud to not only say I finished but to have exceeded my fundraising goal!
