Bedlington man Tom Clark to run London marathon in memory of his father

A keen runner who lost his father to cancer when he was only 24 is tackling the London Marathon in his memory this weekend.
By Charlie Watson
Published 27th Sep 2022, 19:31 BST
Updated 28th Sep 2022, 16:36 BST
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Tom Clark, 27, is attempting the world-famous race for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

In 2018, he returned home to Bedlington for Christmas, which is when he first noticed his dad, Peter, was limping.

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It later came as a shock when the family unexpectedly received some devastating news – that Peter had terminal prostate cancer which had spread to his hips, legs, and spine, causing the limp.

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Tom Clark, 27, is running the London Marathon in memory of his dad to raise money for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF.Tom Clark, 27, is running the London Marathon in memory of his dad to raise money for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF.
Tom Clark, 27, is running the London Marathon in memory of his dad to raise money for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF.

Talking about his decision to tackle the 26.2-mile route, Tom said: “Nothing can prepare you for the loss of a parent, especially at the age of 24.

"In memory of my inspiration, my anchor, and my ultimate phone-a-friend Peter Ivor Clark – I will be running the London Marathon, raising money for WCRF.

“My dad was also a regular runner and raised money for cancer charities up until his death, so it seems fitting for me to continue his legacy”.

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To complete the run Tom has been training several times a week, with a long run every weekend. he is now running at five minutes per km, and is aiming for a finishing time of three hours and 45 minutes.

Tom Clark as a young boy, with his dad Peter.Tom Clark as a young boy, with his dad Peter.
Tom Clark as a young boy, with his dad Peter.

WCRF supports life-changing research into the prevention and survival of cancer through diet, nutrition, body weight and physical activity. One of its cancer prevention recommendations is to be physically active in everyday life – which can include running.

A spokesperson for the charity added: “We know that not everyone will want to run a marathon, but there are other exercises they can do, such as swimming, cycling, walking and dancing.”

Hannah Burgess, fundraising manager at the WCRF, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Tom for his fantastic support and dedication to our work – his father would be proud. Thanks to the amazing efforts of people like Tom, we can continue to help the public make more informed lifestyle choices to help reduce their risk of cancer.”

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Support from school and university friends will help Tom complete the marathon, with a group of more than 10 attending the run to cheer him on.

To support Tom’s fundraising efforts, visit his Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomclarkmarathon2022

Related topics:London