Can you help Fenland grandad reach his charity goal?

Fifty-nine-year-old Dave Parrin, who took up running to keep fit and healthy after he retired, is going the extra mile and challenging himself to raise money for a charity close to his family’s heart.

He will be running the London Landmark Half Marathon in April in memory of his son Shaun who sadly passed away from a brain tumour last summer.

Dave, from Newton-in-the Isle, has set himself a target of £2,500 and hopes that Fenland Citizen readers will help him to get to his goal.

In the meantime, he is out training round the roads and lanes near his home.

Shaun died in July aged only 36. He was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018. Unfortunately the tumours returned in April 2022 and he sadly lost his courageous battle on July 31, 2022”

“I am doing this for Shaun and for a wonderful charity,” said Dave who admits the last time he ran competitively was in his school cross country races.

He owns Dave Parrin Car Sales, near Wisbech, and since stepping back from work and handing over to his eldest son Andrew, he took up a bit of running to keep healthy.

“I will be 60 this year and my wife Sue and I will be celebrating our ruby wedding so this will make 2023 even more memorable. Running a marathon has been on my ‘to do’ list for a while but a half-marathon seems more realistic and it will be inspired by Shaun’s memory.”

Dave has secured a slot at the event on April 2 and will be joining other runners making their way past iconic London landmarks including Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and the London Eye.

“I have been training for about eight months, going out three or four days a week and I am now up to the ten mile mark. I have had the occasional pulled muscle but it’s going well...though I must admit there are times when I have to motivate myself to get out there.”

Sue has encouraged him from day one and Dave says: “She will be there with the rest of the family, including the grandchildren, to cheer me on in April.”

To support Dave visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-parrin or sponsorship forms are available from the garage in Panswell Lane is you like to sponsor Dave the old fashioned way.