Associates running the extra mile
On 20th April, over 53,000 people took part in this year’s record-breaking London marathon. Among those taking part in the 26-mile run across the capital were Bosch UK associates Alex Gibson, George Davalle and Patrick Pokorny. We caught up with them to share their experience and fundraising achievements.
Alex Gibson – CureParkinsons
Alex Gibson, Aftermarket Trainer at Bosch UK, is no stranger to a marathon, having completed his first marathon over 10 years ago. Back then Alex took multiple walking breaks, with this in mind he challenged himself to complete this year’s London Marathon from start to finish with no rests, which he successfully managed to achieve, completing the marathon in 4hrs 12 mins 20 seconds.
Alex ran for CureParkinsons, a charity dedicated to finding a cure to Parkinsons disease, which is a cause important to him, as his dad has spent the past few years suffering from this cruel disease. Alex was lucky enough to get in through the ballot, so didn’t have a mandated target, but this didn’t hinder his commitment to raising money - sending out e-mails, texts and Teams messages to everyone he knew as part of his fundraising process. So far, Alex has been able to raise an impressive £1,900 for the charity, an achievement to be proud of.
Taking on a gruelling training program, Alex spent long hours training each morning in various conditions, keeping motivated to train was a challenge. “The Marathon was certainly a test of my willpower, but it was such a massive reward at the end!”
“We don’t know what our body can do until we try. Pushing ourselves once in a while is great for the mind and soul and can help you turn around your health and fitness in a good way.”
Patrick Pokorny - WWF
As part of preparations to take part in his first marathon, Patrick Pokorny, Senior Project Lead at Bosch UK, completed a 20-week training plan to ensure he was both physically and mentally fit for the 26-mile run. Patrick decided to get involved after watching the coverage of last year’s marathon on TV.Back then Patrick confessed he wasn’t at all fit and that he could “run about 2km max”. He subsequently decided that training to take part in the marathon could double as a great method to increase his base level of fitness, which he could then continue forward with.
Patrick completed the marathon, fundraising for WWF, echoing his commitment to environmental concerns and his enthusiasm for the charity. To date, Patrick has raised over £1,200.
“The event was fantastic, with 50k+ people running and what felt like a million spectators pushing you across each mile it really felt like a party that you just ran around a lot at. Of course, your legs get tired and your pace drops, but you’ve trained for the day and just put one leg in front of the other and before you realise it you’ve finished. 4hrs 33min really did fly by for me.”
“I still don’t consider myself a ‘runner’ but the running community is so welcoming and encouraging. Go out for a 1km run, then a week later do 1.5k, the next 2km. You’ll be surprised how quickly you progress - But please get good shoes!”
George Davalle – Breast Cancer Now
Running a marathon was a milestone George Davalle, Motorsport Engineer at Bosch Engineering GmbH never imagined himself achieving. Having always considered himself more of a cyclist, he has competed in Ride London 100, an endurance race for cyclists.
George’s initial motivation stemmed from a desire to improve his mental well-being, prompting him to lace up his running shoes and begin with the NHS Couch to 5K app. After surpassing the program's milestones George was determined to challenge himself further and complete a marathon.
Despite missing out on a ballot place, George refused to be deterred and secured a spot through a charity entry supporting Breast Cancer Now. Losing his aunt to a prolonged battle with breast cancer made this a deeply personal cause to George, motivating him to find a range of ways to raise money including donation boxes around the office, a charity quiz, raffles and regular messages to his friends and family to encourage them to donate. George has surpassed his goal by 200%, so far he has raised £5,100 for the charity.
In the weeks leading up to the marathon weekend, George encountered tendonitis in his ankle, heavily impacting both his training programs and his condition on the day. But with a range of physiotherapy George was able to take part and compete with confidence. He stated “The first half was exhilarating, with the electric atmosphere of cheering crowds, the sights, and unwavering support pushing me forward. My physical fitness felt superb, and the strength of my ankle holding.”
Over the second half of the race George started to feel some discomfort, but upon seeing his loved ones cheering him on the sidelines, his determination was reignited. “Crossing the finish line and receiving the medal brought an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Not only had I completed the gruelling distance that I never thought would be achievable, but I had also honoured the generosity of donors whose contributions amounted to the remarkable £5000 raised for the charity.”
“For those grappling with mental health challenges, embarking on even a modest endeavour like the Couch to 5K program can be transformative. It's a realization of the incredible capabilities of the human body, irrespective of one's physique or athletic background. Whether you consider yourself athletic or not, the potential to achieve remarkable feats is within reach when you set your mind to it.”