ABF
I've created this page to make a difference in the lives of soldiers, veterans and their families.
Having dedicated over a decade of my life to military service I understand the hardships and trials that soldiers and their families go through, the ABF is a helping hand to any of our soldiers who may need it.
I'm inspired by the work of the Army Benevolent Fund and wanted to support them by raising money as part of my participation in 2026 TCS London Marathon. The ABF is the Army's national charity, supporting individuals and families as well as other leading charities to ensure help is there for soldiers, for life. Last year, they supported individuals aged from just 1 day old to 104 years old.
Please help me help them by giving whatever you can using the 'donate' button. The more people that know about ABF, the greater their impact, so please also spread the word by sharing my page with your friends and family. Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot!
My Updates
Hay is in the barn
Just over two weeks left until the London Marathon and the closing chapter to this challenge I pledged to over a year ago. With peak week behind me and tapering now begun, I’ve had time to reflect on this journey and remind myself, and others, why I started.
I began this journey with the mindset of helping those who have served or are serving in the Army. I suppose, in a way, it was selfish of me to think only of those I’d call my brothers and sisters and only want to help them. But training mostly by myself, I got to spend a lot of time thinking and sitting in my own head, and it made me think more about our friends, support networks and families, and how much support they give us. To everyone who has donated to my fundraising and supported the ABF, you are also helping those networks for any person or family in the Army who needs it.
My own experience of training has been testing. I’ve run countless loops of a one-mile circuit inside the camp I’m currently deployed to and, surprisingly, haven’t lost my mind. I’ve consumed many energy gels, thanks to my partner who has been sending a steady stream through my BFPO. As shown in my gallery, I’ve had icicles form on my eyelashes. I’ve run in -20 degrees Celsius, which looking back now was actually bonkers, but at the time I just suited up and cracked on with the task at hand, telling myself that someone is counting on me. I’ve listened to so much Zack Bryan that I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m in his top 1% of listeners. I’ve had a lot of tough sessions where I’ve actually had to have a word with myself, but overall my experience has been an unforgettable one and I’m glad I get to do this for the ABF.
I’ve read somewhere about ‘maranoia’ and, whilst I find it funny thinking about having a freak out as the date draws closer, I would be lying if I said I haven’t had my own doubts, like “am I fit enough?”, “have I trained hard enough?”, “what if I can’t reach my fundraising goal?”. But deep down, I know what I’ve given and will continue to give so thank you for believing in me and supporting me.
I’ll leave you with a quote that’s been playing on my mind recently that a mate gave me.
“Increase your sacrifice or decrease your desire.”
Peak week
Stories
This link here will take you to the ABF stories page so you can see the support that soldiers and their families have received. https://armybenevolentfund.org/stories/
Big mileage
8 weeks out!
First marathon paced run this week what a ride that was! I’m now coming out of a tough winter of training it’s been difficult to juggle work and training but I’d say discipline is a reward within it self or so I keep telling myself.
Winter training
20 weeks out
It’s official, we’re now 20 weeks out from the London marathon! I’d like to thank everyone for their support towards ABF and by extension me.
Pain
Glory
Excitement!
Battersea park half marathon!
Thank you to my Sponsors
£200
Mauro/veronica/mellissa
£74.20
Lewis Fixe
Haircut fundraiser
£53.32
Lauren Andrews
So close to the big day🏃🏻♂️➡️ time for all your hard work, dedication, commitment and drive to pay off🏅
£53.32
Chris Wilmshurst
£53.32
Gordon (ndc Driver) Kay
£53.32
James & Jade
Good luck. We will be trying to spot you on the tv
£53.32
Emma Andrews
Go smash it Owen, proud of you 😊 x
£53.32
Veronica / Mauro Fixe
Good luck son, your smash it xx
£53.32
James Bell
Run fixe run
£53.32
John Calvert
£50
Doreen Tim Horton
Good Luck - Nanny Grandad
£32.23
Anonymous
£32.23
Ellie Trott
Have the best time … amazing atmosphere for a very worthy cause x
£32.23
Anonymous
£31.51
Melissa Andrews
Big Fixer
£30
Owen Fixe
£30
Owen
£30
Edward Perrott
An excellent cause and best wishes, every step takes you closer to the goal
£27.05
Lewis Fixe
5.5Fixe
£21.84
Elliot Doll
£21.84
Aidan Walmsley
Good luck with the fundraising and the marathon Aidan and Karen
£21.84
Queefy
Fixe up look sharp
£21.84
Mitchell Carruthers
£21.84
Steve Andrews
£21.84
James
Good on you Owen, you will smash this mate.
£21.84
Anonymous
£21.84
Colby Poolton
£21.84
Hemms
Good luck
£21.84
Con Evans
£21.84
Cameron Biggs
£21.84
Sarah Robertson
Go, Owen! You'll be great! 😃
£21.36
Freya Armstrong
Good Luck Owen!
£21.36
M Fletcher
Good luck, such a great cause.
£20
Terry Wood
Good luck
£20
Hazel Erskine
Good luck
£20
John Martini
£20
Loui Sherratt
£20
Anonymous
£20
John Maslen
Have fun ole buddy from the Maslens
£20
David Marsden
Enjoy the day! Great charity to raise funds for
£20
Anonymous
£11.33
Darren Hannam
£11.33
Chris Mccabe
£11.33
Dave Craycraft
Good luck mate, better man than me training like you do in this cold. 💪🏽
£11.33
Imogen Clark
£11.33
Sam Smith
Good luck Owen!
£11.33
Miss Claire Hunt
Well done Owen proud of you xx
£11.33
Lucy Dack
Good luck!
£11.33
Ellie Paget
Wishing you the best for this journey 😊
£11.33
Lauren Andrews
New PB incoming?
£11.33
E
£11.33
Mel Hewitt
Good luck!
£11.33
Jennelyn Pintolo
I hope that even with the small amount I was able to help those in needs. Godbless!
£11.33
Charles Cassidy
We all must fight together or die together
£11.33
Brian Bircham
Good luck, although you don't need it. You can do it.
£11.33
Nathan Baines
£11.33
Anonymous
£11.33
Anonymous
£11.33
Jack Dann
Smash it lips
£11.33
Lucy Wiles
£11.33
Skylar Whitpen
Good luck!! :)
£10
Billy Robinson
Good Luck
£10
S Edmead E
£10
Sarah Baker
Good luck Owen!
£10
Alyson Askew
Good Luck!
£10
R Newton
£10
Anonymous
£10
Mj
Good Luck
£10
Caroline Sykes
Good Luck great cause
£6.11
Anonymous
Well done ! This is an insane thing to push yourself through and amazing to even be able to get to this stage!! Keep going - you got this!
£6.11
Heidi Stuart And Boys Xx
Good luck Owen xx
£6.11
Nicola Hamer
All the best!
£4.02
Anonymous
Smash it !!!
£3
Keep up the hard work Owen x Thanks to tattoosbymelmay