An Andover man has raised more than £2,000 for Prostate Cancer UK after completing his first marathon on Father’s Day — an emotional tribute to his father who is currently undergoing treatment for the disease.
Liam Winton, 29, decided to take on the 26.2-mile challenge after his father, Andy Winton, 59, was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year. With only four months of training, Liam set himself the ambitious goal of finishing the marathon in under five hours — and managed to cross the line with less than a minute to spare.
What began as a personal ambition quickly turned into a heartfelt mission. Liam explained:
“I always wanted to do a marathon, but never did one. With Dad getting the news in February, I thought it would be a good reason to finally do it. It was tough, rewarding and emotional.”
Liam first took up running during the Covid pandemic as a hobby, but this was his first time tackling a full marathon. Running alongside him was friend and work colleague Jack Dundas, also 29, who has completed marathons before and supported Liam every step of the way.
The finish line was a powerful moment. According to Liam, over 30 friends and family members turned out to cheer him on — including his mum and dad, who were both in tears as he crossed the line.
At the time of writing, Liam’s JustGiving page has raised £2,122 from 87 supporters, smashing his original target of £1,000.
Reflecting on the achievement, Liam said:
“Running this marathon was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but thinking of my dad and the battle he’s facing gave me every bit of strength I needed. I’m so thankful for everyone’s support — it’s been incredible.”
Donations are still being accepted via Liam’s fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/liam-winton-2.
