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Wayne Cummings, of Bingham, is raising money for the Stroke Association by running the London Marathon
Mr Wayne Cummings, 37, of Bingham, will raise money for the Stroke Association by running the 26-mile course on April 26.
He has first-hand experience of dealing with a stroke.
Mr Cummings was working as a postman in 2012 when he was called into an elderly woman’s home while out on delivery.
She was concerned that her husband had fallen and couldn’t move.
Having seen the FAST adverts on television, Mr Cummings quickly realised the man had suffered a stroke and called an ambulance, potentially saving his life.
Mr Cummings said: “My experience makes me want to raise money for such a great charity.
“The Stroke Association has always been a charity close to my heart. I have unfortunately been aware of how suddenly a stroke can happen, when we sadly lost my wife’s grandma to a stroke eight years ago.
“She was a fit and healthy lady one day and gone the next.”
Mr Cummings said over the next few months he would be organising an afternoon champagne tea party and a black-tie race evening to raise even more money.
“I have previously completed two London Marathons, my best time being 3 hours 48 minutes,” he said.
“I’m hoping to better my best time this year and training has been going well, although the winter months have been difficult.”
The Stroke Association is the Royal Mail Group’s charity of the year.
Lily Heinemann, head of corporate responsibility and community investment at Royal Mail, said: “The Virgin London Marathon is such an iconic event and a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for our charity of the year.
“We’re thrilled to have so many Royal Mail runners just like Wayne supporting the Stroke Association and taking on the 26 miles of London streets to help us to raise vital funds in aid of Life After Stroke Grants.
“In two years we want to raise at least £2m for the Stroke Association, so we can change the lives of thousands of people affected by stroke.”
Louise Knight, community and events fundraising manager at the Stroke Association, said: “Stroke can be devastating, but with the support of people like Wayne we can make a real difference to people affected by stroke.
“We will be cheering Wayne on every step of the way as he races through London this April, and together we can conquer stroke.”
Every penny raised will help the charity provide Life After Stroke grants of up to £300 to help 10,000 stroke survivors.
These grants fund equipment to give stroke survivors more independence and support as they take their first steps back into the community.
To sponsor Wayne visit his Sponsor Me page. http://www.sponsorme.co.uk/WayneCummings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;