RUNNING a marathon may be no easy feat but for baker Graeme Marsh one is just not enough.

The 44-year-old from Banbury ended 2014 in high spirits after completing 19 full marathons and 16 half marathons.

But he is set to dash across the country, completing 100 races in one year to raise thousands  for the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign.

Mr Marsh said: “Us men ignore the bad stuff. At the beginning of 2014 I was not a runner. In fact in the previous 20 years the most I’d run was 20 metres for a bus and invariably missed it.
“But there was something instantly addictive about long-distance running.”

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Mr Marsh said he was inspired to take up his mammoth challenge after losing close friends to cancer last year.
And when his 80-year-old mother Daphne Marsh underwent a mastectomy last March after being diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time, he said his life “changed dramatically”.

Mr Marsh added: “This time last year, I felt like I was the Grim Reaper’s best buddy.
“I’m middle-aged now.
“Having seen my friends go from one form or another of cancer, it dawns on you ‘hold on, I might be next’.
“Cancer destroys everybody’s lives. It just affects everybody.”

Determined to support other families battling cancer, Mr Marsh signed up for last October’s Bournemouth Marathon.
Just seven weeks into training, he decided to take an early shot at the Stratford-upon-Avon Mar-athon in April 2014.
He said: “I signed up for another marathon a week later and another two weeks after that one, then another and another. Like Forrest Gump, I just kept running.”

Now Mr Marsh hopes to raise awareness of male cancers and encourage men not to feel embarrassed when visiting their GPs for check-ups.
He will zoom through the races, as well as a nine-day cycle ride, for the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign, wearing a Near Naked Suit.

Before then he will be juggling his time between preparing for races and working at Banbury’s Fine Lady Bakery.
He has switched shifts with colleagues and used his annual leave to compete in races.
Mr Marsh added: “As men, when we notice a lump, or something untoward, what do we do?
“We keep our mouths shut, tell nobody and hope it'll go away.
“Unfortunately that denial, dismissal, embarrassment, fear, ignorance, pride and stubbornness costs lives.”

The Male Cancer Awareness Campaign encourages fundraisers to don its Near Naked suit, worn by the face of its campaign, the Near Naked Man. 
It aims to combat embarrassment preventing men from discussing their bodies 
Mr Marsh has already raised £1,000 of his £5,000 target for the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign charity, which aims to highlight cancers facing men.
To donate visit justgiving.com/Graeme-MCAC

RUNS CONFIRMED SO FAR

  • Jan 10 & 11 – Martello Marathon Double, Kent
  • Jan 21, 22, 23 – Dawn2Dusk, Worcester
  • Jan 24 & 25 – Viking Coastal Winter Marathon Double, Kent
  • Feb 1 – Watford Half Marathon
  • Feb 7 – Winter Holly Challenge, Telford
  • Feb 8 – Wokingham Half Marathon
  • Feb 14 & 15 – Exeter Half Marathon
  • Feb 21 – Winter Railway, Telford
  • Feb 22 – Hampton Court Half Marathon, Surrey
  • Mar 7 – Groundhog Marathon, Telford
  • Mar 8 – Wrexham Marathon
  • Apr 1 – Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle ride
  • Apr 12 – Brighton Marathon
  • Apr 19 – Grtr Manchester Marathon
  • Apr 23 – St George’s Day Marathon, Kent
  • Apr 25 – Fowlmead Challenge, Kent
  • Apr 26 – Shakespeare Marathon, Stratford-upon-Avon
  • May 3 – Three Forths Challenge, Worthing
  • May 4 – Milton Keynes Marathon
  • May 17 – Brathay Windermere Marathon
  • May 30 – Kent Roadrunner Marathon
  • May 31 – Edinburgh Marathon & Half Marathon
  • Jun 6 & 7 – Viking Coastal Summer Marathon Double, Kent
  • Jun 13 – Holly Challenge, Telford
  • Jun 14 – Rock 'n' Roll Liverpool Marathon
  • Jun 20 & 21 – Milton Keynes Marathon
  • Jun 25-July 4 – The Great Barrow Challenge, Suffolk
  • Jul 5 – Potteries Marathon, Stoke-on-Trent
  • Sep 13 – Great North Run
  • Sep 27 – Loch Ness Marathon
  • Oct 3 & 4 – Bournemouth Marathon
  • Oct 11 – Yorkshire Marathon
  • Oct 25 – Becahy Head Marathon, Eastbourne
  • Oct 26 – Bristol to Bath Marathon
  • Nov 1-6 – The November Marathon, Telford.
     


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