A family effort: Gareth and Alysha run the Manchester Marathon together for Juvenile Arthritis Research

On Sunday 19th April, after a challenging few months, Gareth and Alysha ran the Manchester Marathon and raised a phenomenal £1,667 to support Juvenile Arthritis Research.     

Gareth and Alysha both enjoy running and Gareth had previously completed the Reigate half-marathon raising awareness of JAR. The week before the Manchester Marathon, Gareth ran the Brighton 10K, and then on the big day itself he was joined by wife Alysha and they ran the Manchester Marathon together inspired by their JIA warrior Finley. 

Following a 6 hour journey to Manchester, fuelled by pasta and staying well-hydrated in preparation for the run, they were fortunate to have great weather on the day. 

Gareth told us; 

"The day went really well, the weather was beautiful. Alysha beat her PB (Personal Best) by 19 minutes to achieve a 4.08 time - which I am so proud of her and impressed by. I completed it. I was aiming for sub 4hr30 but managed 4hr41mins.  I hit 28km and my knees and ankles decided they had other plans than let me carry on at pace! The main goal was to complete it and raise money for a great cause which is what we all did. So that’s perfect!" 

Gareth and Alysha's son Finley, aged 4, was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) last summer. 

"Starting with a swollen knee, doctors were initially unsure of the diagnosis.  After two difficult weeks of repeated hospital visits, Finley was diagnosed with JIA.

To date, Finley has undergone four procedures under general anaesthetic to inject steroids into the affected joints. He also requires regular eye checks, due to the risk of JIA-related uveitis — serious and often symptomless eye inflammation that, if left untreated, can lead to loss of vision.

With swollen knees, ankles, and elbows, Finley has faced constant hospital appointments, procedures, and ongoing medication. As a family, we turned to the Juvenile Arthritis Research (JAR) charity, which has been an invaluable source of information, support, and advice.

Although Finley remains a happy and active young boy, we do not know what the future holds for him and his condition."

"As a family, we turned to the Juvenile Arthritis Research (JAR) charity, which has been an invaluable source of information, support, and advice."

After signing up to complete the Manchester Marathon, Gareth suffered a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) following an accident in October. Yet with incredible determination to recover Gareth crossed that finish line 6 months later in April. 

"My determination was driven by a desire to raise awareness and funds for Finley’s condition and for the charity that continues to support him." Gareth explained. 

Thank you Gareth and Alysha for your incredible support and fundraising. We'd also like to thank all of your friends and family who have sponsored you to complete this fantastic challenge. 

If you've been inspired to take on a running challenge in support of Juvenile Arthritis Research, find out about the iconic running events we offer at www.jarproject.org/run

Or if running isn't for you, you can fundraise to support our work in many other ways too! Find out more at www.jarproject.org/fundraising