Hoo ex-army man runs London marathon

HOO EX-ARMY MAN RUNS LONDON MARATHON FOR THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION 15million ex-Service people and their families benefit from runners' fundraising Everest Drive, Hoo, resident John Douglas will be joining 84 other athletes running in support of The Royal British Legion among the 30,000 runners at the 22nd Flora London Marathon on Sunday 14 April. John, 56, is running the London Marathon to benefit the Legion's welfare work for some 15 million ex-Service people and their families in the UK. He has run numerous marathons since the 1970s, including London and Dublin. The Channel Tunnel health and Safety engineering advisor said: "I was in the Royal Engineers for 22 years and I'm a member of the Strood Legion branch, so I think the Legion is a very good cause. I hope to raise at least £2,000. My friends and family are supportive but slightly doubting my sanity - they say that to do the marathon once is great, but more than once is just madness!" Although the Poppy Appeal raised a new record total of £20.1million in 2000-1, that is just under half the £43million the Legion spends each year supporting the ex-Service community. Funds raised by marathon runners will enable the Legion to continue its vital and varied resettlement and welfare work in the ex-Service community, including its Hospital and Housebound Visiting Scheme. Last year the Legion funded 15,300 visits to ex-Service people who were either in hospital or housebound and living alone. The scheme aims to reduce loneliness by offering company and friendship. Organised regionally by Legion Branches, members drop in regularly on people, and provide help with small tasks such as letter writing and contacting relatives and friends they may have lost touch with on the person's behalf. Such simple help can make all the difference to someone who is lonely or needs some supportive encouragement. The Legion has been offering this kind of support for most of its eighty-one year history but today it is more relevant than ever, when people are living longer and often on their own, with family spread around the country, or even the world. More.... Cont.... To support or sponsor John, please contact him on 01634 252 617. For information about the Legion, the Poppy Appeal and how you can benefit or get involved, contact Legionline on 0845 7725 725 or visit www.britishlegion.org.uk ENDS Notes to Editors The Royal British Legion is Britain's leading ex-Service charity protecting the interests, welfare and memory of ex-British Service people and their families and dependants since 1921. Some 15 million people - of all ages - are eligible to approach the Legion for support. All its work is funded through the Poppy Appeal and the donations and sponsorship of individuals, groups and businesses that support its aims. In 2000-1 Poppy Appeal raised a record total of £20.1 million and the Legion aims to raise an even greater total in 2001-2. For interview/photos contact: John Douglas - 01634 252 617 Further information from: The Royal British Legion - Rachelle Simpson - 0207 973 7264 or rsimpson@britishlegion.org.uk Issued by: The Press Office, The Royal British Legion, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY Tel: 0207 973 7265/7296/7292 Fax: 0207 973 7239 ISDN Broadcast studio: 0207 321 0476 (By prior arrangement) Internet: www.britishlegion.org.uk Email: rsimpson@britishlegion.org.uk Legion Releases can also be downloaded from http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about5.cfm ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/03/05/20020305BIT00590/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/03/05/20020305BIT00590/wkr0002.pdf