Charity Work

Les and his team are big on helping charities raise as much funds for all their good causes. Here is a selection of organisations they have helped and continue to help make a difference!

2008 London Marathon for St Johns Ambulance

In near perfect conditions Les completed the 2008 London Marathon in a PB time of 3hr 37min. Although at times there were heavy showers this helped cool everyone down. Great support from the noisy crowds along the route which helped especially towards the end. Steve Hams also completed the 26.2 miles in 4hr 26mins. Both were raising funds for the St Johns Ambulance charity.

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Macmillan Cancer Relief New York Marathon 2005

Swindon Macmillan Cancer relief runner Les Slinn has completed the gruelling 26 mile New York Marathon in aid of the appeal raising over £2,000. In temperatures of 68 degrees Les ran through the 5 boroughs and 4 bridges setting a completed time of 4hrs 4mins and finished in the top third of the field. The New York times stated “this marathon is the most challenging both physically and mentally”.
Over 36,000 runners took part in the race coming from all over the world. The majority running for charities like Macmillan raising much needed funds.
Les stated, “the New York public were fantastic, over 2 million along the route cheered all of us to the finish line, at 22 miles we all needed that boost due to it being so warm and it really did make a big difference,”. Macmillan also had a big cheering section just coming off Queensborough bridge at 16 miles.
The day before the big race Les and his now wife Clare entered a 4 mile friendship run for all overseas runners this gave him a taste of what the atmosphere was going to be like on race day.
Whilst out there Les was talking to Macmillan race organisers and was asked if he would perhaps think about running the London or Edinborough marathon for the charity next year. His answer “let me get over this one first!”

Prospect Hospice New York Marathon 2006

Temperatures this year were cooler and hence Les managed to complete the Martahon in 3hrs 48min also raising much needed funds for Prospect Hospice.

Chenobyl Childrens Charity 2006

Back in 1986 the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster hit the Belarussian people the hardest; the radioactivity was 90 times greater than Hiroshima. Even today more than 2 million people are still affected with no access to clean food. The emerging picture of the impact on the children with childhood cancers, leukaemia, tumours and thyroid cancers are rife.
The Chernobyl Children Lifeline charity was formed to help the children of Belarus, in which it raises funds to bring groups of children to the UK for respite care. The Swindon Link was formed in May 2006 and is run by Gin McGiffin.
Recently a group of children came to Swindon to host families and were given a whole months worth of activities which included a mornings Swimming and Kids Fit session at JJB Swindon with Les. All of the children enjoyed themselves and had fun. Les said “it was lovely to meet them, we all had a great time and I hope we can do this again when they come over in the summer!”
For more information please log onto www.chernobylchildlifeline.co.uk

British Heart Foundation Bike Ride 2006/07

On a bright and breezy sunday morning in August, Les arranged a 28 mile bike ride for 19 of his clients in aid of the British Heart foundation in the lovely countryside of Devizes in Wiltshire. Everyone had different reasons for completing the course, the majority had raised alot of money for the charity.
All who took part completed the gruelling undulating course even though they had to deal with punctures and nearly getting lost right at the start!

Martial Arts Festival for Disabled Performers

On Wednesday 15 June 2005 at Cotswold Leisure Centre, Les was invited by Alan Reid (Festival Co-ordinator for Cotswold District Council) to be the Karate and Pad work Instructor. This event is the only one of its kind in the South West and approximately 250 Children, young adults all with disablities were able to get taster sessions in Karate, Kung Fu, Judo, tai chi and self defence.All the participants really enjoyed the day, had fun and went away with certificates, some even went away with well earned medals.
Radio Gloucester and local papers were on hand to help promote the hard work Alan and his team had put in. Les was more than happy to help and is looking forward to next year when we can make it a much bigger event.

British Heart Foundation- Santa Run 2007

3 Mile Santa run for the British Heart Foundation we managed to gather a team of 24 santas for this race. Bit cold and wet but a great laugh and everyone was supplied with their own suit.