This year, supporters from all around the country applied to take part in the TCS London Marathon and we were delighted to have Daryl amongst them. Daryl is based in Scotland with his wife, the couple have supported Blueprint for All since 2020 and being a keen sportsman, Daryl was eager to take on the challenge of running 26.2 miles and raising awareness for Blueprint for All in the process. We had a catch up with Daryl to hear how he is preparing ahead of the event. 

Please tell us a bit about yourself. How did you first hear of Blueprint for All?  

I’m a 34-year-old small business owner from Glasgow, and I am actively involved with amateur sport (football, running, golf… and sometimes the gym). In my spare time. I’m also a keen musician but I’m afraid that won’t have much bearing on my TCS London Marathon efforts! My wife has been a long-term donor to the charity, so I’ve been aware of Blueprint for All for a while now and the fantastic work that the charity does.   

Why did you decide to run the TCS London Marathon for Blueprint for All? 

 I read “Running the Smoke” by Michael McEwan and was inspired by the accounts of others who have completed the race for a range of reasons and worthwhile causes. As a keen runner myself, I have always admired the TCS London Marathon from afar and when I heard that the charity was looking for entrants it was an absolute no brainer for me. I was absolutely delighted when I heard my application had been successful… and here we are!  

How has your experience been with training? 

It hasn’t been the most straightforward in that I broke my ankle last September so only really began properly early this year! I have just completed my long training run which is the furthest I’ve ever ran, and knowing that the marathon is coming up is quite daunting. However I’m extremely motivated to run for the charity and I’m sure that the spirit of the occasion will help get me to the finishing line.  

Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to take on a challenge for Blueprint for All?  

Go for it! Blueprint for All offers fantastic support to those who engage with their fundraising and they have been brilliant with me since I’ve taken this challenge on. I can’t wait for the event and hopefully I can kick on with my fundraising total in the coming weeks.  

You can support Daryl in his fundraising efforts and follow his journey through his fundraising page. If you have a challenge you would like to take on for Blueprint for All or would like to hear more about upcoming events, please contact fundraising@blueprintforall.org