Roy Caine will be heading to London this weekend to join the thousands of others who are taking part in the London Marathon. Roy, who comes from Birkenhead, would be the first to admit that he is not a natural runner, but he has been inspired to take on the challenge in a bid to raise £2000 for the British Liver Trust in memory of his friend, Alan.
“I met Al completely by chance – he sat near us in the Gwladys Street end at Goodison – and over the next 20 years became one of my best friends,” says Roy, a 38-year-old teacher. “Al had a terrific sense of humour, a love for the Blues and was generous, empathetic and quick witted. Early in 2023, Al started to suffer with ill health. We knew he had some liver issues, but in all that time it never occurred to me that we might lose him – he was so young and had so much to live for. Sadly, he passed away in December of that year, and as we talked about his legacy, it seemed only right to do something for the British Liver Trust. I knew I couldn’t have any more of Alan’s time, but I knew that if we can raise money for the Trust, then someone somewhere out there can have that time for themselves.
“I only took up running during the pandemic because Everton FC won away at Liverpool for the first time in 22 years. I figured that if they could win at Anfield, then maybe I could try and run. So, I gave it a go and lost six stone as a result. That was great but I didn’t see myself taking on long distances. I realised, however, that in order to fundraise, I would have to step out of my comfort zone. So, I did the Edinburgh Marathon last year – one of the toughest days of my entire life – but I was still delighted to get a place in the London Marathon so I can raise even more.
“Fitting in marathon training amongst other commitments isn’t easy. I have a busy job as a teacher at the Co-op Academy in Bebington and am also planning my wedding to my fiancée, Rachel in July. However, knowing that I’m doing something meaningful to help others in Alan’s situation keeps me motivated and I’m truly grateful for everyone’s support. I’m looking forward to the big day. I know it won’t be easy, but I’ve done it once, so I can do it again. Most of all, I know Alan will still be with me as long as I keep doing this.”
Audrey Cornelius, Director of Fundraising at the British Liver Trust said: “As a charity, we are leading the fight against liver disease and liver cancer. We reach over two million people each year; providing information and support to patients and families and providing vital advice to help people improve their liver health. But there is still so much to be done. Liver disease is the only major disease in the UK where death rates are rising, and we want to change that. We’re so grateful that Roy is taking on the London Marathon for us. It’s a huge commitment and a wonderful tribute to his friend. We wish him all the best for the big day, and we’ll be there cheering him on!”
You can support Roy’s London Marathon challenge at Roy Caine is fundraising for British Liver Trust
