In 100 days’ time, British endurance racing star Darren Turner will participate in his fourth London Marathon as he aims to raise £5,000 for Gloucestershire-based Hope for Tomorrow, which provides mobile cancer care units for NHS Trusts around the UK.
Turner, who is a Hope for Tomorrow ambassador, turns 50 on 13 April – less than two weeks before the 26.2-mile 2024 TCS London Marathon. So, he’s hoping to achieve his fundraising target while celebrating a key milestone in his life and career at the same time.
The three-times Le Mans winner and the reigning GTD class champion in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, who was recently confirmed as a works Aston Martin driver for a remarkable 20th consecutive year, had been searching for an appropriate way to mark his half century and decided another crack at a dash around England’s capital city was just the thing.
“I wanted something that confirmed to myself that I am still fighting fit and as athletic as I’ve ever been, and the marathon seemed like just the right thing to do,” explained Turner. “Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m not a massive fan of running, in fact there aren’t many things I want to do less than get up in the morning and go for a run! So, this is also a proper challenge for me.”
Hope for Tomorrow’s mission is to bring cancer care closer to patients. It provides mobile units that drive out to communities to provide local support, as an alternative for those needing cancer treatment who might otherwise have to make sometimes long and stressful journeys to their closest hospital.
“I am delighted that Darren was able to successfully secure a much sought after place in this year’s London Marathon,” commented Tina Seymour, Chief Executive of Hope for Tomorrow. “He has truly embraced this challenge. I am not only thrilled for him as a charity ambassador but deeply grateful that he has chosen to support Hope for Tomorrow again by fundraising in this way.
“All the sponsorship raised will help keep our wheels turning and make cancer care a little easier for patients across the country. I am sure many will encourage and support his training progress towards the big day. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Darren for supporting the charity – helping us deliver mobile cancer care to many more patients and for his wonderful commitment. Best of luck with the training, Darren, we’re all cheering you on!”
Turner has three previous participant medals, the most recent coming in 2018, when he competed alongside his wife, Katie in what is remembered as one of the hottest London Marathons on record.
This time around Turner is taking the whole experience a little more seriously. “I asked Hope for Tomorrow if I could run for them and they have been brilliant. I’ve always wanted to record a time under four hours, and on the last three attempts I’ve ended up finishing just over that time. But I’ve never really taken the training seriously before, I’ve just gone for a run a couple of times and then showed up, then hit a brick wall after about 12 miles. This time I’m hoping a little more focussed training will pay off.”
“Hope for Tomorrow is an entirely self-funded charity, and one that really makes a difference to people’s everyday lives,” said Turner. “It’s an amazing project and as an ambassador I’m always proud to support it. I really believe in what it does, and anything that can just make people’s lives that little bit easier when they are facing such enormous challenges can really make a tangible difference. So, if we can raise some awareness as well as some funds to assist Hope for Tomorrow further, then that’s a small price to pay to go running for the day!”
If you’d like to support Darren and help him reach his £5,000 fundraising target, head to the link below.
