Bristol Rovers' Retail and Ticketing Manager Pete Weymouth will run in the upcoming TCS London Marathon to raise money for Bone Cancer Research Trust.
Click here to donate to Pete's fundraising page!
Bone Cancer Research Trust is the leading charity dedicated to fighting primary bone cancer and are on a mission to make a difference through research, information, awareness and support, with the cause close to Pete's heart.
"The main reason I chose Bone Cancer Trust is because of Nick Anderton," he said. "When I first came to the Club, it was the season where we got promoted after we won 7-0. I had quite a good relationship with Nick, and everyone knows Nick’s story and the journey he has been on. When the opportunity came up to run for them, it was a no-brainer to raise money in Nick’s name.
"The journey he has been on and seeing he’s got through it. The amount of endurance and toughness he’s had to show to get through that, a couple of years of chemotherapy and all the stuff that comes with it, and he’s still a positive bloke. He’s still here, he’s buzzing.
"So, if I can show a tenth of that determination to get through the marathon, it would be unbelievable, and getting over that finish line would be some achievement.
"I’ve also got a friend whose niece is a Rovers supporter and she’s gone through bone cancer as well. I would like to do it for them and raise awareness."
The London Marathon will be another impressive milestone for Pete, who has lost 58 pounds in his weight loss journey. His strict training regime has not only been impactful for his physical health but his mental health as well.
"Running is always an exercise that I have found to be good for regulating my mental health, and the period that I had previous to that, the months before where I ballooned and the weight went on, I wasn’t training," he stated. "So, my head wasn’t in the best place, and then you comfort-eat.
"Then I get to my before photo that I’ve used for my social media for the last four months. It’s easy for everyone to say that you need to get out and try and do some exercise, but I think the hardest part is actually doing that part of it.
"I was working in the shop, and the amount of people that have seen the change in my physique, it’s amazing to get the compliments. I’ve shared my journey and the comments from people I’ve never met messaging me asking for advice and saying I’m an inspiration, which I never thought anyone would say."
Pete is looking to raise as much money as possible for Bone Cancer Research Trust and is thankful for the support from the Football Club.
"I have got an amount that I need to raise, and the first team squad have been really supportive of that," he smiled. "Players like Connor Taylor, Luke Thomas, even George Friend back when he was playing donating boots to auction off and shared my fundraising page. They have been unbelievable.
"Even former players and staff have been really positive in sharing the stuff online. If I can do it in four hours, I would be delighted. But as long as I do it by the end of that day, that would be even better."
The marathon will be Pete's biggest running challenge yet, and he cannot wait to get over the finishing line after completing a mammoth 26.2 miles.
"I’m hoping it’s going to be unbelievable, and I’ve got enough strength in my legs to go to Nandos," he laughed. "In my head, I can see myself doing it, but it’s difficult to put into words what that would be like after training since October, putting the miles in and getting up at quarter to four most mornings to go to the gym. It’s just going to be an unbelievable feeling."
