Meet Mark Fletcher, EIA’s very own marathon man!

After EIA secured a place in the Virgin London Marathon 2012, we experienced some difficulty in getting a runner to fill it, so a special vote of thanks goes to Mark Fletcher for stepping in very late in the day and agreeing to pound the streets of the Capital in order to raise vital funds for our work.

After spending a number of years as a journalist on a local newspaper, Mark is now the Marketing & PR Manager for Harlow Playhouse theatre in Essex.

Mark Fletcher

“I took up running a few years ago, in part as a hobby and also as a way of relieving the stress of a busy day,” he said. “However, as time went by I gradually took running more seriously and began to enter fun runs and races; first a 10km here and there, and then a 10-mile and in 2010 the Run to the Beat half-marathon in London.

“Although I vowed never to do a full marathon, I eventually relented and gave the 2011 Dublin Marathon a shot. It was a great experience, but the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Echoing multi-Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave, I vowed never to do another.

“But the London Marathon has a special place in the hearts of many distance runners and the opportunity to do the 2012 race, especially in aid of the Environmental Investigation Agency, was too good to miss.

“Please help me raise as much money as I can for this great cause. Thanks very much!”

Mark has set up a page at JustGiving, which you can find here – please take the time to visit and sponsor his efforts.

We’ll be catching up on Mark’s training and fundraising progress as the date of the marathon – April 22, 2012 – draws nearer.

Until then, please join us in wishing him the very best of luck!