One of CleanEvents Venue Presentation Manager Darren Lewis will be running the Virtual London Marathon on Sunday 3rd October 2021 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Now entering its 40th year, the London Marathon has become one of the most iconic events in the calendar. With over 40,000 runners taking to the streets of London on Sunday, the 26.2 mile route highlights some of the capitals well known landmarks and attractions.

Whilst Darren will not be soaking up the atmosphere in the capital, he will be joining other participants in a virtual marathon. Created in 2020 during the pandemic, the virtual marathon allows you to make up your own route in the comfort of your own surroundings, whether that be running on a treadmill, an athletics track or outdoors through the streets and woods of your home town. Each virtual runner is given a number and their progress is tracked on an app to ensure the 26.2 mile length is completed.

Darren is raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND), a charity that is very close to his heart. This disease occurs when the nerves in the body become damaged and affect the way the body works. Over time, the messages sent from the brain to the nerves gradually stop reaching the muscles, causing them to them weaken. This can then affect the way you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.

MND affects people differently making it very difficult to predict. It can affect any adult at any age. Currently there is no cure, but symptoms can be managed to achieve the best quality of life. There is a 1 in 300 risk of being diagnosed with MND, meaning it is not a common disease, but it is a fatal one.

When asking Darren how he was feeling about his upcoming run, he said he was is ‘nervous but excited’. “MND has recently affected a member of my family and I’m beginning to see the effects of what this disease is capable of” commented Darren. “I wanted to raise money for the charity to aid them in better research so that anyone in the future that is affected will be able to have the help and support that is needed and has been provided for my family at this time. “

“We would like to wish Darren the best of luck on Sunday.” Said Operations Director Jay Adderley “The whole of the CleanEvent Team will be cheering him on at our various locations throughout the UK and hope that he completes it in record time.”

If you would like to make a donation to Darren, you can do on his JustGiving page which can be accessed by clicking here.

Good Luck Darren!