FROM HIS BARBER'S CHAIR TO THE STREETS OF LONDON RILEY STRIKES RAFFLE GOLD

Riley James underwent serious surgery at the age of 14 as a result of his scoliosis condition. Not many years later he is taking on the London Marathon. He tells us how his training is going and his early successes with his fundraising, including chatting to all of his customers! Getting started early is really important and following a plan for both makes the whole process so much earlier.

If you'd like to follow in Riley's footsteps and run your next event for Scoliosis Support & Research, or you're interested in one of the charity's London Marathon entries, email Will fundraising@ssr.org.uk. Thank you.

To find out more about Scoliosis head to https://ssr.org.uk

 

PODCAST NOTES

Keywords

 

London Marathon, Scoliosis, charity running, personal journey, fundraising, community support, marathon training, health awareness

 

Summary

 

In this conversation, Riley James shares his inspiring journey of preparing for the London Marathon while raising awareness and funds for scoliosis support. He discusses his personal experience with scoliosis, the challenges he faced during surgery and recovery, and how he became motivated to run the marathon. Riley also talks about his training regimen, the importance of community support, and the strategies he employs for fundraising. His story serves as a beacon of hope for others facing similar challenges, emphasising that with determination and support, anything is possible.

 

Takeaways

• Riley's diagnosis of scoliosis at age 14 changed his life.
• Running the London Marathon is a personal challenge for Riley.
• Surgery for scoliosis was a traumatic experience for him.
• Riley aims to inspire others with his marathon journey.
• Training for the marathon has been a positive experience so far.
• Fundraising for scoliosis support is a key part of his mission.
• Community support has been crucial in his training and fundraising efforts.
• Riley's job as a barber helps him raise awareness about scoliosis.
• He has set a fundraising target of £2000 for the charity.
• Riley is determined to prove that obstacles can be overcome.

Sound Bites

• "I thought my sporting career was finished."
• "There's no wall too big to climb."
• "I became obsessed with running."
• "I want to beat my dad in the marathon."
• "The weather conditions are obviously hard."

 

Chapters

 

00:00 Riley's Journey to the London Marathon

02:04 Facing Surgery and Recovery

05:38 Training for the Marathon

12:02 Fundraising Challenges and Strategies

18:41 Community Support and Motivation

25:09 Looking Ahead to the Marathon