BUSINESSMAN PREPARES FOR MARATHON FUNDRAISING EFFORT

Business owner John Williams and his running mate Leigh Martin are about to run their own local marathon course – after their plans to run in Berlin were thwarted by Covid19.

Known as the co-founder of heating and plumbing company John Williams Heating Services, John (51) is in training for the bespoke ‘Not The Berlin Marathon’ around Chippenham on Sunday September 27.  He’ll be joined by his friend Leigh Martin, who is senior finance manager with Siemens Rail Infrastructure. The pair met when Leigh started running in 2013 and joined the Chippenham Harriers running club. 

John said: “Leigh and I planned and booked to run the BMW Berlin Marathon as a joint personal challenge after we ran the Barcelona Half Marathon in 2019. I also wanted to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. We were well into our training when the event was cancelled, we kept on training and committed to running it anyway – just not in Berlin!” John said. 

“When the Berlin Marathon was cancelled, John and I had been training and we both had a word with ourselves and decided to go for it. Moving up from a half marathon to a marathon has been a challenge. It takes over your whole life – I’ve even given up alcohol this year to get me around! It’s a huge thing taking on your first marathon at 55!,” Leigh said. 

Setting off on the Sunday morning, the pair will run a circuit which will take them through Pewsham, Foxham, Langley Burrell, Biddestone and Chippenham. It will also be the first marathon for both of the runners. 

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and to testing myself when we are not in a ‘formal’ situation with crowds cheering us on. It’s for a good cause and that is what keeps me running,” John said. 

John has been raising money for the British Heart Foundation for the last three years in memory of his dad Steve who passed away suddenly. Through various charity events and challenges, John and his wife and business partner Debbie have raised close to £10,000 in Steve’s memory. They are committed to help fund vital research into the causes of heart attacks and heart disease. 

John and Debbie are well known in Chippenham as the founders of John Williams Heating Services, a Worcester accredited installer and a member of Oftec, the trade association monitoring best practice in oil heating installation and repair. They are also accredited with Gas Safe and are based on the Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate. To support John in his efforts to fund raise for the British Heart Foundation please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-williams136