Marc and Victor Driven to Run London Marathon for Red Balloon

Marc, aged 41, from Dereham, is embarking on his first ever marathon which takes place on April 17th, alongside fellow runner Victor Ling, a 37-year-old manager of Barkers Photographic in Gorleston.

After trying to get a place in the London marathon for four years, Marc was guaranteed a spot this year after chatting to his friend Colin Stacey who is a trustee with Red Balloon Norwich and Red Balloon Learner Centre project manager (buildings).

Red Balloon is a charity that helps with the recovery of bullied children and Marc and Victor will be raising money for the Norwich centre which provides an 'intensive' full-time education for children aged between nine and 18 who are unable to go to school because they have been severely bullied. At least half of the students they take have attempted or seriously considered suicide.

The first Red Balloon Learner Centre was set up 15 years ago in Cambridge. Since then, more have opened, with plans for a total of 36 to be up and running in the next few years.

Marc competed two years ago in the Great North Run, raising money for Motability, a charity that helps disabled customers and their families to become mobile through the provision of vehicles and powered wheelchairs.

He said: “I’m very excited about my first marathon and hope that I’ll have plenty of Va Va Voom on the day! I hear that quite a few people are coming down to London on the day to cheer us on. If anyone would like to back Victor and I by sponsoring us in aid of a very worthy cause, please click onto www.justgiving.com/marchuggins or please contact me at the dealership.”

Victor added: “I’m looking forward to running the marathon in aid of Red Balloon. I took up running two years ago but the longest distance I have run is 10km. I’ve already lost more than a stone in weight through training and am hoping to lose another half a stone before the marathon.”

-- Posted by Red Balloon - Norwich on 13th June 2011 --