Chris Reid from Edmonton, London who has a learning disability, is taking on the 2022 TCS London Marathon this October – one of the biggest events in the fundraising calendar – for learning disability charity Mencap to raise awareness and vital funds.
Chris, 25, will be one of over 200 Mencap runners – including six runners with a learning disability – taking on the iconic 26.2 miles route from east to west London, via the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and The Mall.
Chris, who will be running the London Marathon for the first time, was inspired to take up running ten years ago whilst watching Sir Mo Farah, CBE at the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
Chris has a learning disability but that hasn’t stopped him from competing in running events in T20 athletics, a classification for track athletes with a learning disability. An experienced runner, Chris has taken part in the Mencap National Athletics Championships, Newham Parallel Success games and the mainstream London Indoor Games, to name a few.
Mencap has supported Chris over the years through its Supported Internship programme, helping Chris gain valuable work experience, which enabled him to improve his communication and numeracy skills and overall increase his confidence. Chris, who previously lived with his parents, has since moved into supported housing and the help he receives has helped him to become more confident with everyday activities such as managing his own money.
Every penny raised by Chris will go towards funding Mencap’s life-changing programmes, which aim to tackle stigma and help people with a learning disability lead happy and healthy lives.
Talking about why he is running the 2022 TCS London Marathon for Mencap, Chris Reid says: “The London Marathon has been on my bucket list and I’m really looking forward to ticking it off. I’ve been running since 2013 and it has helped me a lot with my mental health. When I’m running, it clears the other thoughts out of my head. I just think about running and leave everything else aside. Running is my safe space. I’m really looking forward to seeing the cheering crowds and running down the Mall, past Buckingham Palace to the finish line. It will be a special day.
“I’m running for Mencap because I want to help someone like me. Someone who has been in my shoes and maybe someone who is struggling like I was. I’d like to give back to the people that helped me.”
Edel Harris OBE, Chief Executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, says: “We are delighted that Chris, along with over 200 other runners, will be taking on the 2022 TCS London Marathon to raise vital funds for Mencap.
“All of our runners will be helping to raise awareness about learning disability and in turn raise vital funds for our programmes, which are needed now more than ever. Join me in supporting Chris by cheering him on, on the day and by donating to his fundraising page. Through your generosity and encouragement, we can continue to support people with a learning disability to lead happy and healthy lives.”
There are around 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and they face huge inequalities everyday of their lives. They are more likely to be socially isolated, nearly twice as likely to be inactive and die on average over two decades earlier compared to those without a learning disability. Mencap want to change this by supporting them to lead happy and healthy lives, campaigning tirelessly for their rights and fighting stigma and discrimination.
Founded in 1946, Mencap provides the highest quality frontline support to thousands of people with a learning disability, while ensuring that people with a learning disability and their families and carers can get help through the charity’s helpline, online support services and lobbying and influencing work.
Together we can improve the lives of people with a learning disability now and into the future. To find out more and donate, please visit: www.mencap.org.uk/event/2022-tcs-london-marathon
To support Chris’ fundraising ambitions, please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Christopher-Reid21
