Paul Parsons is clocking up the miles for Muscular Dystrophy UK, the leading charity for more than 110,000 children and adults in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions, like his friend’s eight-year-old daughter, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2020.
Paul, from Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent, will join more than 50,000 runners to complete the TCS London Marathon, on Sunday 26 April 2026. This comes after he’s completed an epic two-day 54-mile challenge for the charity.
The 46-year-old set off from his beloved Stoke City Football Club only last month (26 February) and arrived at Coventry City Football Club the following day (27 February), where he watched the match between the two sides the next day.
Last year, Paul successfully completed a 38-mile walking challenge from Stoke City Football Club to West Bromwich Football Club in 10 and a half hours, months ahead of running the London Marathon for Muscular Dystrophy UK. He’s also completed the London Marathon in 2023 and 2024 for NSPCC.
Paul said: “I remember through my childhood years watching the London Marathon on the TV and saying to my parents that that would be me one day. I saw it as a personal challenge that I aspired to complete.
“I chose to support Muscular Dystrophy UK, a charity close to my heart, as my friend’s young daughter lives with a muscle wasting condition and now is wheelchair bound. It was a charity I was determined to support because I could relate to the purpose. It touched my heartstrings and I wanted to do something to raise awareness and give something back.
“The charity has a real family feel to it and has been nothing but supportive. It makes you want to be part of change and support the muscle wasting community. It’s an honour to fundraise on the charity’s behalf – so I’d encourage everyone to dig deep.”
Talking about his recent 54-mile challenge he said: “Many people thought I was nuts for even attempting it in the timeframe I’d allowed myself. It was the biggest challenge I’ve set myself and the hardest to date. I was delighted to have completed it. The fact I was doing it to raise funds and awareness of a charity that means so much to me, made it all worthwhile.”
Taking up running in 2018, Paul describes his running experience saying: “Being overweight myself, I always wanted to improve my fitness, so I took up a couch to 5k program and really enjoyed it. I gradually started running more and this helped me both physically and mentally and I haven’t stopped running since.”
To support Paul Parsons please visit justgiving.com/page/paul-parsons-9.
For more information about Muscular Dystrophy UK visit musculardystrophyuk.org or call the free helpline on 0800 652 6352 (open Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm).
