Preparing for Dubai run
by Lewis Dyson
A former Sheppey schoolboy is preparing to run the Dubai
Marathon in memory of his grandfather.
Stuart Bell was never much of a runner when he was a pupil at
Sheppey Comprehensive, but he wants to change that by taking part
in the biggest mass participation event in the Middle East on
January 25.
The 36-year-old will be raising money for the charity Bowel
& Cancer Research in memory of his grandad, Alexander Bell, who
died from bowel cancer at the age of 58.
Stuart moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2006 as managing
director of the Dron and Dickson engineering company.
His mum Carole still lives in Halfway.
He said: “I ran the Dubai 10k last year and really enjoyed it. I
felt I wanted to go the extra mile – or extra 32km in this case –
and thought it was a good way to remember my grandad.
“I was only eight when he died and lost my chance forever to
show him how much he meant to me.”
Mr Bell is training for the 26-mile race, which attracts more
than 15,000 runners, although he did take a break to marry school
teacher Nicky Lunney on November 1 before jetting off on a two-week
honeymoon.
He went on to say: “She’s very supportive and will be there to
cheer me on.
“I’m not the greatest runner to have ever graced the track, but
if I can finish in under four hours I’ll be happy.”
In the UK, 40,000 people are affected by bowel cancer every
year.
Bowel & Cancer Research chief executive Deborah Gilbert
said: “Research has come a long way since Stuart’s grandfather died
and many people survive the disease today.
“The support of people like Stuart is invaluable if we are to
ensure that those survival rates keep rising.”
Anyone who wants to add to Stuart’s fundraising total
can do so at www.justgiving.com/Stuart-Bell76
19/11/12
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