Jimmy’s Double Charity Challenge

Over the next six months, 34 year old Worth resident, Jimmy Beale will be taking on TWO big charity challenges; all to raise funds for a Parkinson’s charity – a cause very close to his heart, as his dad is a sufferer.

The dad of two, who works alongside his father as a heating engineer, will be pounding the pavements of New York for the world-famous New York Marathon in November and enduring the ultimate running test in Disney’s Dopey Challenge (48.6 miles) in January, to hopefully raise his target of £2,500 for The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

“I’ve always played football, so I have ran, but New York will be my first marathon,” Jimmy explains. “I have been in-training for about four months now, just building myself up with four, five and six mile runs. I am running in various meets over the coming months in preparation.”

“The reason I decided to do these particular marathons was, first of all, it’s always been an ambition of mine to run the New York marathon. I’ve always heard that the crowd participation is excellent and of course the breath-taking views all around the city. I’ve visited New York a few times and I am always taken with how cinematic everything seems.”

“I’ll also be taking part in the Disney Dopey Challenge in Florida, which consists of a 5K on the Thursday, 10K on Friday, half marathon on Saturday and full marathon on the Sunday. My children are also running in the kids’ 100 metre race in support of their grandad, which he will be able to witness. I think this will be a special moment for him to see!” the local fundraiser continues.

When asked why he’s doing marathons almost back-to-back, Jimmy told us: “I really wanted to do a challenge that I thought best represented what great work the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research do. I am looking forward to both marathons just for the challenge and pushing myself to the limit for a great charity.”

“My dad has had Parkinson’s for over 10 years and I have seen in close quarters (we work together) how debilitating the disease can be. Anything I can do, however small, will hopefully help to one day provide a cure.”

Jimmy can be sponsored by visiting: www2.michaeljfox.org/goto/Jimmybeale