Chesterfield businessmen plan own marathon to raise money for canine charity

Tony Dent, a partner of Chesterfield-based vehicle leasing specialist B&B Vehicle Contracts, and Paul Gosney, business development manager at City Taxis, will take part in the Virtual London Marathon on Sunday, October 3, on behalf of national charity Support Dogs.

The pair, neither of whom have run a marathon before, and are currently plotting a 26.2 mile marathon route – starting at Dronfield Woodhouse and finishing at the Support Dogs training centre in Sheffield, hopefully around six hours later.

They hope to encourage people to cheer them on along the way and will receive support by their friend Jim as pacemaker on his electric trike and Tony’s wife Katey in a back-up van.

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Tony, whose company has made Support Dogs their charity of the year, said: “We both love dogs, and Support Dogs do amazing work.

“I’ve known about their work and supported them for many years. I was recently watching one of their videos about a young girl whose life was turned round by her assistance dog, and every time I watch it, I cry! It’s heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time.

“It gives someone a new lease of life which you would not expect from an animal. The sheer joy that a dog brings to people’s lives and what these dogs do is incredible. They give people who have disabilities such freedom and a new lease of life, and that’s what’s it’s all about for me.”

Tony, from Sheffield, had heart surgery two years ago so the Virtual London Marathon is a big challenge.

He and Paul are now hard at work in the gym and pounding the streets in preparation for the event, in which participants can choose their own marathon-length route.

Both men, who have set themselves a fundraising target of £3,000 are planning a practice half marathon route in September to test their fitness.

“When people hear that we’re doing a ‘virtual’ marathon they seem to think that it’s online and we’re not actually running 26.2 miles – but believe me we are!” added Paul, who lives in Chesterfield.

To sponsor Tony and Paul go to Virgin Money Giving | It's A Marathon Not A Snickers.

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