A cricketer from Warsash running the London Marathon has been backed by Arsenal’s England international star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
James Hughes
The £800 donation from the footballer – a former school classmate – doubled James Hughes’ funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. What’s more the added gift aid meant the donation totalled £1,000.
The 20-year-old South East Hampshire Cricket Association U14 coach and a Sport Coaching student at Southampton Solent University is aiming to cross the finish line of the annual marathon on Sunday (April 21).
Initially James aimed to raise £500, but because of the messages of support and being overwhelmed by the increasing donations – including the huge sum from his former St John’s College classmate – it has spurred James on for the race.
“It was a big deal. It was very generous of him and I was a bit shocked, stunned and amazed by it,” said James. “He helped to double it. A big thank you to him.
“I was the kid at school who had to welcome him in when he was new. Ever since then we were good friends throughout St John’s College. We played football and cricket together. He was good at cricket too.
“We text now and then. I’m hoping when I finish uni this year it would be good to meet up again. But I’ve been busy and obviously he’s very busy too.”
As reported in The Gazette, James took on the challenge after being inspired by his father Bob, who completed 13 miles of the race before having to stop from the pain of a fractured ankle. James is also running in memory of his grandfather Wilfrid Potter, who died of cancer in 2003.
This year’s race is going to be a heart wrenching one for those who, like James, will be thinking of the hundreds that were injured and those killed during the bombing of the Boston marathon.
“I’m looking forward to the race,” added James. “I’m looking forward to getting through it and getting to 13 miles and hopefully doing another 13 on top of that.
“The organisers are giving out black ribbons to remember those in Boston and a lot of people running are even more determined now because of what happened in Boston. I’m more determined.
James has been training hard for the event and hopes to achieve about four and a half hours. If he gets to meet cricket hero Andrew Strauss, who is running for charity, that would be a bonus, he said.
To sponsor James visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesHughes93.