Sawbridgeworth man to run London Marathon in aid of The Donkey Sanctuary

A Sawbridgeworth man will be hoofing it for a cause close to his heart when he runs The London Marathon later this month.

James Woolley will be among a team of eight taking part in the iconic event around the capital’s streets on April 27 in aid of The Donkey Sanctuary.

James is no stranger to pulling on his trainers and heading out for a run, having completed a handful of half marathons, 5ks, and his first triathlon last summer. He’s also planning to keep in good shape following the London, and will be attempting his first half Ironman later this year.

Donkeys were never far away from his childhood, as he remembers a pair of them living in a field next to their family home in Cambridgeshire. The donkeys had been rescued by the farmer’s daughter and lived very happy lives in their countryside setting. He said: “I would watch them all day, chasing off the occasional unwanted intruder from their field.

“They've always had a spark to their personalities, which I think is fantastic.”

With tremendous support from his wife Hannah, James is managing to balance his busy work and home life with a rigorous training schedule. By supporting the work of The Donkey Sanctuary in this way, James is also keen to set a good example to his young son, that caring for animals is incredibly important.

James said: “I think like any keen runner London is the marathon that everyone dreams of doing. I used to live there, and to be able to run the course and absorb the energy from the crowd and the city will be an incredibly moving experience; I'm very excited about it.”

To support James, visit his Just Giving page here.