What’s Green and has eight legs? The answer: One family’s marathon effort on behalf of thousands of people with learning disabilities, and children and families in need.
Four brothers will be pounding the capital’s streets on 25 April as they join 22 other runners taking part in the London Marathon in aid of Norwood. Joe, Sam, Harry and Jacob Green hope their combined efforts during the 26-mile challenge will raise more than £10,000 for the Charity.
The Greens’ involvement with Norwood stretches back many years. Their proud dad Philip was Chairman of Ravenswood before it merged with Norwood, while their mum Caroline is Norwood’s in-house legal advisor. Philip was also due to take part in this year’s run but was forced to withdraw because of an injury. However, he has happily taken up the role of coaching the boys through a rigorous training programme.
“Running the London Marathon for a charity is a tremendous honour, and even more so because it’s for Norwood, which in my view is the finest of organisations,” he said. “As a previous marathon runner, my only regret is that I won’t be running again and crossing the line with my sons. But knowing all the vantage points along the route, we’ll certainly be there to encourage them on their way.”
Joe, 24, works alongside Philip at the family’s property investment and development company. Meanwhile, Sam, 23, works for an American sales and marketing organisation; Harry, 20, is currently in his third year at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he is reading Mechanical Engineering; and Jacob, 18, is in his last year at St Paul's School, London, before going up to Jesus College, Cambridge, to read Geography.
Ian Tate, Norwood’s Head of Challenges, said: “Having four members of the same family taking part in the London Marathon is definitely a first for us. We wish Joe, Sam, Harry and Jacob the best of luck on 25 April and would like to thank them for all their efforts on behalf of the people with learning disabilities, and children and families in need, who receive vital support from Norwood. I’d also like to express my gratitude to everyone else who is running in aid of Norwood this year. Your support helps us to change the lives of thousands of people each year.”
The other Norwood runners are: Lee Bibring; Asher Budwig; Nicola Cane; Simon Deen; Robert Desmond; Flora Frank; Andrea Fraquelli; Ollie Gershfield; Robert Graham; Jane Jaffe; Samuel Kaye; Emma Levy; Leeor Levy; Sam Matthews; Daniel Mitchell; Neville Newman; Michael Patterson; Dominic Rosenfeld; Justin Selig; Richard Stanton; Greg Steeves; and Max Truman.
