Three Buro Happold employees have completed the London Marathon as it celebrated its centenary year. International multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold contributed a sponsorship of £1,500 towards the total raised by Neil Coker and Richard Press, who work from the company’s London office, and David Hull, who is based in Leeds. The money raised will benefit a selection of worthy causes.
Neil Coker, associate for Buro Happold management, raised just under £700 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He completed the course in six hours, 45 minutes and 36 seconds. Neil said: “I decided to run this year’s Flora London Marathon as it is some 14 years since my last. I felt that I should do one more at least just for the fun of it. I am keen on sailing and I was led by the example set by a disabled friend of mine. He has just crossed the Atlantic single-handed (quite literally as he only has the use of one arm) in support of the RNLI, and so I also decided to raise funds on their behalf.”
Richard Press, senior façade engineer, completed the course in an amazing three hours, 38 minutes and 39 seconds. Richard ran for his chosen charity Centrepoint, which helps to improve the lives of homeless and socially excluded 16-25 year olds in the UK. With a fundraising target of £600, Richard has already exceeded his goal by over £200!
Richard said: “It’s been a lifelong ambition to run in the London Marathon. I’ve applied for the last five years and this is the first year I was successful in being accepted. I trained for four months before race day, since New Year. The atmosphere on the day was amazing, with everyone on the route shouting encouragement; it really spurs you on!
“My friends, family and work colleagues have all been very generous and I’m really grateful that my sponsorship tally has now exceeded £800.”
Finally, Buro Happold partner and building services discipline leader, David Hull, ran this, his first marathon, in aid of the registered charity Training for Life, which helps people trapped in long-term unemployment and homelessness to turn their lives around. He completed the course in an impressive four hours and 56 minutes.
He said: “The beginning was quite tough, but the day is one I will never forget. The opportunity to help such a worthwhile cause is the real icing on the cake. I’d like to say a big thank you to all those who wished me well and sponsored me. And to those of you who have run a marathon before, I’d like to know how many hot baths does it actually take before my legs will stop hurting?!”
In total, Buro Happold and the three runners have raised £3,000 for good causes through their participation in the marathon.
