THE MONEY has rolled in for golf business boss John Andrew since he finished the London Marathon last week.
And he reckons he had plenty of energy left at the end of the 26 miles and can’t wait to do it again next year.
John, 44, who is chairman of Huddersfield-based Direct Golf UK, notched up a time of 3hrs 50mins when he ran to raise funds for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation and Cancer Research UK.
His efforts have raised more than £4,000 – with donations still pouring in.
John, whose retail business is based at the Galpharm Stadium, wore the number 1984 – the year that Seve famously won the Open Championship at St Andrews – and Union Jack shorts to take part in his first marathon.
The Seve Ballesteros Foundation funds research into brain cancer. The 54-year-old lost his three-year battle with a brain tumour last year.
John said: “With only a few months to train I was pleased with my time and finished the race with loads left in the tank.
“Next year I feel I could go quicker and raise even more money!”
Training in the Pennine hills clearly did Andrew the world of good as he finished with a sprint down The Mall – much to the delight of the crowds.
He said: “The London course is relatively flat compared to the Pennines, so when I sighted Buckingham Palace I decided to go for it with a sprint to the finish line.
“I got a huge cheer from the crowd, who were fantastic all day, and really inspired me to keep running.”
Donations can be made at www.direct-golf.co.uk/seve or at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JohnAndrew1.
John got his chance to run after winning an auction for a place in the London Marathon when he was a guest at a fundraising event for the foundation at London’s National History Museum.
