Jamie Vittles, head of the City Community Trust, is running the London Marathon this year to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West.
Jamie, who has started his 18th year in his current role, has been instrumental in helping the City Community Trust (formerly Football in the Community) charity organisation the thriving success it is today.
The CCT, which has around 100 members of staff, deliver sports participation programmes, education for young people post-16 as well as Higher Education, adult learning, inclusive programmes with under-represented groups and other mental and physical wellbeing services for Exeter and the wider Devon community.
As well as raising the profile of CCT by doing the run, Jamie wants to also raise some cash for another fantastic charity in the South West of England.
“I’ve decided to take a charity place and raise some money for Children’s Hospice South West which is a fantastic charity and a fantastic cause,” said Jamie. “They look after terminally ill children and support their families in a number of centres across the South-West.
“After working with Children’s Hospice South West and a number of charities over the last couple of years I have seen the fantastic work that they do and the funds that are needed to put into the work that they deliver.
“They touch people’s lives and the benefits they give are huge. It’s an absolute pleasure to be running for them and it gives me an extra spur to know that they will be able to continue their amazing work off the back of the funds I’m trying to raise.”
Jamie, who signed a professional contract at City before going onto to play for Bideford, Gloucester City, Weymouth and Seattle Storm, says training is difficult this time of year but he hopes to beat the four-hour mark when the big day comes around.
“Training is tough,” he said. “It’s not a nice time of year to be training out in the cold and wet, in both the evenings and the early mornings. I’m getting up to half-marathon distance now, with around 11 weeks to go. A total 15 miles is the target for this Sunday, so I’m gradually working those miles up and I’ll be up to 20 as a distance before the 22nd of April comes around.”
Jamie says he has been overwhelmed with the donations he has already received. However, you can help Jamie raise much more needed funds for Children Hospice South West by visiting the following page.
“So far, I’ve only gone out on email to family and friends, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount I’ve been able to raise in a short period of time,” said Jamie. “Over the last 48 hours I’ve raised over £1,000 which is fantastic; the bucket collection from the Forest Green game is contributing towards my challenge and that was brilliant.”
“Hopefully by doing something like a running challenge this will help us further raise the awareness of what we do as a charity as well,” added Jamie. “It will get our profile up by doing events like this and get people more engaged so they can understand that it’s not just football services that we deliver to primary-age children but other services as well.”