Marathon man edges closer to his 500th run

David Phillips is at it again with plans to run the London Marathon in a matter of weeks and take his fund-raising up to £84,000 - just shy of his £100,000 target.

The accountant, who is in his early 70s, set himself the challenge of making it to 500 full marathons in the next five years to bring in £100,000 for the Brain and Spine Foundation.

The former rugby captain has been an accountant in Kenilworth since 1975 - and has made time for running nearly every day since his first race in 1981.

He will join Katy Mclean, the ladies England rugby captain to complete what will be his 22nd time running the 26-mile London course for the charity close to his heart.

“This year at London it will be my 450th full marathon and the ultimate 500 goal still beckons,” he said.

“I have been running a lot and am really looking forward to getting out there on the day.

“We have a really good team behind us for another year.”

David, who said he has no idea how many miles he must have covered since completing his first marathon in Coventry in 1981, is fundraising with the foundation for the 15th consecutive year.

And he has once again assembled ‘Team Phillips’ with fellow fundraisers David Goodwin, Anne-Marie Paszkiewicz and husband and wife marathon first-timers Nathan and Rachael Bignall.

Together, the group hopes to between them pull in an extra £10,000 in sponsorship to add to David’s growing kitty.

“Once again all I can ask is that if you feel like supporting the charity through our efforts then many people less fortunate than you and me will surely benefit,” said David.

“I am always overwhelmed by how much support the people of Kenilworth give and it is touching how many get behind me each year.”

Over the past two decades David has taken his trainers all over the world to compete in races in New York, Cairo, Paris and Malta.

But insists that London’s race is top of his favourites list and one that appeals each and every year.

The Claverdon resident is one of around 25 runners in the country to have completed more than 400 marathons. He hopes to make it to 500 within the next five years.

To sponsor David and his team visit their fundraising page or send a cheque payable to David Phillips Marathon Account, Accountancy House, 4 Priory Road, Kenilworth CV8 1LL.