Welsh Secretary to participate in London Marathon

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns will be lacing up his London Marathon running shoes for the sixth time today (23 April) as he prepares to take on the 26.2mile course around the capital city.

Mr Cairns will be raising money for two charities in 2017. Heads Together is a group of mental health charities working to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues. He will also raise money for Age Connects in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Mr Cairns was the first MP to cross the finish fine in 2014 (3:34:16), 2015 (3:38:25) and again in 2016, clocking a personal best time of 3:28:02 and placing him in seventh position on the all time list of MP runners.

Alun Cairns said:

Every person who takes to the streets to run the London Marathon will be doing so for a very individual reason. Whether it’s to set a personal best, to raise money for a cause, to remember a loved one, or to simply realise a dream, it will be a reason that provides a constant source of motivation during those cold, hard months of training!
One month on from the Westminster attacks, we will see thousands of people lining the streets of London, all in support of those taking part and galvanising this nation’s mindset that we will never give into terror or change our way of life.
I am looking forward to joining the thousands of runners taking part – to celebrate the city of London, to raise money for two good causes – and to perhaps pick up a PB along the way!