Page 19 - Federation magazine: October / November 2016

Clocking up marathon
miles for Children’s Hospital

West Midlands firearms officer event will be the Leicester
Andy Mandefield is pounding the Marathon at the end of
streets of the UK for the second October.

year running to raise money for Andy added: “So far I’ve

Birmingham Children’s Hospital. raised around £1,200 for the

Andy decided to try to raise funds for Children’s Hospital but I want

the hospital last year after a friend’s to continue and have already

three-year-old son, Olly, was diagnosed begun planning next year’s

with a rare and aggressive cancer. He challenge.

successfully completed 16 half marathons “I’m hoping to take part in

in eight months and is hoping to increase the London Marathon and the

his personal challenge and the fund-raising Birmingham Marathon 2017.

this year. But I’ve also signed up for the

“So far I’ve completed the Coventry Half, Cotswold 113, a half iron man

Stafford Half, Manchester Marathon, distance triathlon which is a

Stratford Triathlon, Derby Half, London to 1.9 kilometre swim, 56-mile

Cambridge Ultra Marathon, Birmingham cycle ride and a 13.1 mile run. I

Olympic Triathlon, Peak District Ultra also want to take part in the

Marathon and the Wolverhampton Outlaw in Nottingham which is

Marathon,” Andy explained. a full iron man distance

Andy wants to complete four triathlon - a 2.4 mile swim, 112

marathons, four half marathons, a miles of cycling and a 26.2 mile

triathlon, two ultra-marathons and an run. I also hope to enter more

Olympic triathlon before the end of the triathlon and cycling events.”

year. Olly has returned home and

He added: “I’ve had a fantastic time, is recovering well, attending

enjoying some very difficult but rewarding Birmingham Children’s Andy Mandefield and his daughter at the end of the

moments, mostly during the London to Hospital just for check-ups London to Cambridge Ultra Marathon.

“Cambridge Ultra Marathon. This was a now.

62-mile run from the Olympic Village in I’ve had a fantastic time, enjoying some
London all the way into Cambridge. It took very difficult but rewarding moments,
me 13½ hours to complete and at times I mostly during the London to
wasn’t sure I could make it to the end. But
then I’d see my family at one of the rest
stops and would become energised again.
“Nails fell off and blisters bubbled but I
eventually ran into the finishing area and Cambridge Ultra Marathon. This was a
was met by my daughter running towards

me. She took my hand and helped me 62-mile run from the Olympic Village in
across the finish line.

“I really enjoyed my first Olympic London all the way into Cambridge. It
distance triathlon in Birmingham a few

weeks later and it has inspired me to focus took me 13½ hours to complete and at
on triathlons more next year. I completed

the Peak District Ultra Marathon with a times I wasn’t sure I could make it to the
colleague but then I hurt my ankle early on “

in the Wolverhampton Marathon so end. But then I’d see my family at one
struggled to complete it.”

Andy managed a period of rest before of the rest stops and would become
his next race - the Nottingham Marathon

on 25 September. The Birmingham Half energised again.
Marathon followed that and then his final

www.westmidspolfed.com federation October/November 2016 19