From West Sands to the Champs Elysees

Breaking his running hiatus and hopefully his personal record, Chariots Race frontman and St Andrews charity fundraiser has returned to the racetrack.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Apr 2016, 16:43 BST
Ben McLeod was delighted to hand over £2,572.54 to the Sue Ryder charity following the successful Chariots of Fire race held on the West Sands recently. Helen Hamilton from Sue Ryder gratefully accepted the money earlier this week at the plaque just yards from where the iconic film was shot. Ben has been keeping up the charity work recently and plans to run a four half marathons followed by the famous New York marathon later this year to raise yet more money for Sue Ryder.Ben McLeod was delighted to hand over £2,572.54 to the Sue Ryder charity following the successful Chariots of Fire race held on the West Sands recently. Helen Hamilton from Sue Ryder gratefully accepted the money earlier this week at the plaque just yards from where the iconic film was shot. Ben has been keeping up the charity work recently and plans to run a four half marathons followed by the famous New York marathon later this year to raise yet more money for Sue Ryder.
Ben McLeod was delighted to hand over £2,572.54 to the Sue Ryder charity following the successful Chariots of Fire race held on the West Sands recently. Helen Hamilton from Sue Ryder gratefully accepted the money earlier this week at the plaque just yards from where the iconic film was shot. Ben has been keeping up the charity work recently and plans to run a four half marathons followed by the famous New York marathon later this year to raise yet more money for Sue Ryder.

Taking to the streets of Paris Ben McLeod, Chariots Beach Race event organiser and prolific fundraiser for St Andrews based Worldwide Cancer Research (WCR), will run the 2016 marathon on Sunday.

“I have been training whilst adapting to a new career as a teacher at a boarding school in Epsom, Surrey and I have little free time other than Sundays.

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“For previous marathons I used to train by running to Cupar and back. Running to Croydon and back just isn’t the same!”

Although Ben has raised well over £10,000 for Worldwide Cancer Research, over the past few years, he is determined to raise an extra £1500 for the charity by taking part in this marathon.

He said: “I am really looking forward to the race.

“I’ve not been able to train as much as for previous races but I do seem to be running just as fast – either I’m naturally fit or I haven’t been trying hard enough in the past!”

Claiming not to be nervous Ben admits that the last six miles will be the toughest. “I don’t want to let myself down not those who have sponsiored me and that somehow keeps me going.

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“Paris will be a new experience and I would love to bring back a personal best as a souvenir.”

At the heart of the marathon attempt is Ben’s passion for raising money for a cause that makes a difference. He explains: “It is important particularly at a time when there have been reports of genuine breakthroughs in research in the media.

“We need to press on – the projects WCR fund continue to further our understanding of how to defeat cancer.

“It’s great that a world class initiative retains its local roots in St Andrews and I’m proud to run on their behalf.”

Related topics:St AndrewsWest SandsParisSurrey