Gareth began his running journey after contracting meningitis in 2014 at age 31, and as part of his recovery and rehabilitation, he started marathon training in 2015 to raise money for The Meningitis Research Foundation at his home Marathon the 2016 Belfast City Marathon.
In a few short years Gareth has combined his passion for running and fundraising. He ran his first marathons in 2016 (Belfast & Dublin), then in 2017 he completed marathons in London, Belfast, Londonderry, Birmingham, Great North Run and another 9 Half Marathons. 2018 saw Gareth completing marathons in Belfast, Cork, Berlin, Chicago and a further 4 Half Marathons – all fundraising for the MRF charity. 2019 saw Gareth then take on Tokyo, Manchester, London, Belfast, New York City and 5 Half Marathons – this time for the Charity, Cancer Focus NI.
Gareth was due to complete the 6 World Marathon Majors in 2020 by completing The B.A.A. Boston Marathon on the 20th of April and had planned to run his 5th Belfast City Marathon. Due to COVID-19, Gareth’s plans of becoming a Abbott World Marathon Major Six Star Finisher have been put on hold until 2023. Gareth also has strong aspirations to run the North Pole marathon for charity in the near future.
From 2016 to 2018 he raised in excess of £6,000 for The Meningitis Research Foundation and £12,000 for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland since 2018.
In 2017 he became the founder and organiser of the now annual Northern Ireland Royal British Legion Run To Remember 5k race and has been credited for building positive community relations through this work along with fundraising for the charity.
I am now an Abbott World Marathon Majors 6 Star Finisher at the 127th B.A.A. Boston Marathon on Monday 17th April 2023