A FORMER Harlow rugby club player will be running to the club tomorrow as part of an amazing series of marathon runs for charity.

Mark Pickett, aged 47, is running for his sister-in-law as she battles bowel cancer.

Mark told YH: “As a keen runner of half marathons, I have been continually inspired by the strength and resilience of my sister-in-laws battle with Bowel Cancer, and decided 2025 is the year to up the stakes to full marathons.

“Michelle is currently fighting this terrible disease for the fourth time! Having been first diagnosed in 2020, she and her husband Dave, and children Georgia and Harry have gone through the enormous lows of this illness with surgeries, and chemotherapy.

“As a result, I have set myself the challenge to complete 12 marathons during 2025 (one each month) to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK.

“Saturday is my twelfth and final marathon. It certainly has been a journey for me and my family. We have travelled the country from Suffolk to Southampton, and even ran one in Wales. I have currently run 1,722 kms (1070 miles) with 17,547 m in elevation, which is the equivalent of leaving my house and running to Madrid, Spain, whilst running up Mount Everest, twice!

So far we have raised nearly £6,000, and are hoping to raise some more at the final marathon.

“I am running between the two rugby clubs: Harlow Rugby Club (ex-player) and Bishops Stortford Rugby Club (currently coach U12s).

I am going to start at 9am next week at Bishops Stortford Rugby Club after Al (the club President) sends me on my way, and look to finish back there for first team KO at 3pm.

“Fingers crossed I will be at Harlow Rugby Club between 11:30 and 12:30 for pictures and fund raising.

Here is the link to Mark’s justgiving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-pickett-1736888090293?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

Here is our interview with Mark.