On Sunday 26^th April, the day the Virgin Money London Marathon should have taken place, Andrew Ogierman, aged 56, set off round his garden at 8.30am and walked the distance of the London Marathon – 26.2 miles -  in 7 hours 5 minutes. 

Andrew has worked at Aspire for over 14 years looking after fundraisers taking on runs, cycle rides and open water swims, although he is currently furloughed due to the coronavirus crisis.  An avid runner, Andrew regularly takes part in parkruns around the world and has previously taken part in a variety of challenges for charity including several London marathons, Great North Runs, the Prudential RideLondon cycle event and Aspire’s own Aspire Channel Swim challenge.

This year, however, Andrew was advised by the government to remain at home for 12 weeks as he is considered to be a vulnerable person during the coronavirus crisis because of illnesses in recent years including leukaemia in 2016 and bypass surgery in 2014.  This means that the only exercise Andrew is currently able to do is to walk around his garden.

Andrew says, “Every year since 2004 I have either run, worked at, or organised a cheer point on the day of the London Marathon, apart from the year I was being treated for leukaemia when the hospital insisted I stay at home. This year there was be no April London Marathon and the government has told me to stay at home which left a gap in my diary.  To fill it, I measured out an alternative marathon course in my garden which worked out at 608 laps to cover the 26.2 mile course, which I did as a figure of eight. As well as filling a space in my diary it is a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of people with Spinal Cord Injury at a time when they need it more than ever.”

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