The Brighton Marathon is set to take place this Sunday, and We Love Brighton would like to take the time to highlight one of the participants running for two great causes. Our former Managing Director, Andy, passed away last October, so these causes have a personal impact on all of us here at We Love Brighton and his cousin, Rich, is running the race to raise awareness for mental health charity Mind and Cancer Research. These are two issues that will affect all of us at some point in our lives, and we want to share Rich’s story with you to spread awareness for these two fantastic causes.
When Is The Race
The event is set to take place on Sunday, 6th April, and the marathon starts in Preston Park across various wave times from 09:45 and will end at Hove Lawns. A 10k race is also taking place on the same day. Up to 20,000 participants are expected across the weekend’s events, organisers said, so expect the city to be busy and a few road closures.
Rich’s Story
“In a moment of midlife crisis as I turned 50 last year and also wanting to do something in memory of my Dad, I decided to sign up for the London Marathon, some 23 years after my only ever previous one. I didn’t get into the London one, but I did get a place down at the home of football – so on Sunday April 6th I will hopefully complete the Brighton Marathon.
After more and more friends had/have been diagnosed with some form of cancer, I thought this is what I will run it for, as outside of trying to raise a bit of money, there is nothing else I can really do to support. You know who you are, this is for you.
Then a week to the day after my 50th, I heard the news about my second cousin and centre midfielder partner Andy, who we tragically lost that day at the age of 34. After the funeral and after I had spoken to his Dad – I decided to raise for Mind, the mental health charity as well.
I am sending this out only a week before, because based on my past record, I just assumed I would get injured – but that hasn’t happened, I’ve finished all the boring long Saturday morning runs & training has gone fairly OK, so it looks like we are game on!
I’d love the donations to be around equal, but I would imagine these two charities are also very personal to some you all as well, so anything you can give to either of them is brilliant.”
How You Can Help
Just Giving can’t equally allocate any donations to two charities, so we are going to share the two links below. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/rich-bolch-1
https://www.justgiving.com/page/rich-bolch-2
Please remember you can still make donations after the race, also, and any donation is important no matter how big or small.
If You Need Help
We will also leave links to Cancer Research, Mind and The Samaritans below, so if you need help, please reach out and use these hotlines and resources.
