IT’S a challenge that few will complete in their lifetimes, yet Mark Spiers, from Peel, will be running the London Marathon on Sunday.
The marathon has raised more than £450 million for charities since 1981 and, this year, Mark, 41, will be running to raise funds for Manx charity the Drug Advice Service and Helpline (DASH).
Having supported the cause for a number of years, he explained: ‘I have seen the work that the charity provides in the community and the impact that they can have. I wish to continue to support the valuable work they do with both adults, young people and families affected by drugs.’
His efforts will help as DASH deals with the recent bombshell that government will be withdrawing its financial support for the charity from August. Taking a break from his day job as a workshop manager at J. G. Corkill and Co garage, Mark said: ‘I chose to support DASH as my mother-in-law works with them – hopefully the money raised through the marathon will give us the opportunity to help them, as funding to the charity is going to be cut soon.’
DASH is an Isle of Man-registered charity and has been offering free and confidential advice to people of all ages and backgrounds since it was established in 1996.
For more information, or if you would like to donate to the charity, log onto {http://www.drugs.org.im.drugs.org.im}.