23 April 2010

By Sarah Marl

This Sunday will mark the day when 36,000 runners will pound the streets in the 2010 Virgin London Marathon.  Disability Sport Events (DSE) are delighted to have 20 fundraising champions taking part in this year’s iconic event.

The London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event on the planet – runners have raised over £450 million for good causes since the race began in 1981.  Disability Sport Events runners are aiming to raise in excess of £35,000 for this great cause.

Martyn Down, aged 47 from Fareham in Hampshire, is taking part in the 2010 Virgin London Marathon for DSE, “It is my 48th birthday on Sunday so what better day to achieve a challenge of a lifetime!  I am incredibly inspired by the work of DSE, and am proud to be taking part and raising money for them on Sunday.”

Amongst our team is ex Premiership Referee Rob Styles, who is running alongside his wife- Liz. He chose DSE after realising how important sport is in his own life and career.

However, he is the first to admit that running 26 miles on the road is just as challenging as ruling a football match, Rob said ahead of the race:
“I’ve always been fit and active with my job, and harboured a 20 year ambition to run the London Marathon.  Every year I’ve been inspired by the mass of bobbing heads running along the streets, and this year I was determined to be one of them.  DSE is a fabulous charity that I will continue to support in the future.”

DSE is the events arms of the English Federation of Disability Sport- the umbrella body of sport and physical activity in England. We rely on fundraising and sponsorship for our programmes to exist.  With your help, we could make an even bigger difference to thousands of disabled peoples’ lives. 

If you would like to sponsor any of the DSE runners please visit www.justgiving.com/dse

-ends-

Media information:
Lucy Appleton – Communications Officer for DSE - 0161 953 2770
Lucy Lloyd-Ruck, Fundraising Officer for DSE- lucy@dse.org.uk/ 0161 953 2430

If you would like to donate, or organise a fundraising event please contact DSE directly on 0161 953 2499. www.justgiving.com/dse

Notes to editors:
• Disability Sport Events (DSE) is the events division of the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) – the umbrella organisation responsible for co-ordinating sport and physical activity for disabled people in England. Charity registration number 1075180.
• DSE aim to increase participation opportunities for disabled people in sport.
• We organise championships in a variety of sports including regional, national and international competitions.
• To learn more about Disability Sport Events visit www.disabilitysport.org.uk