The Name:
Jamil Merali
The What:
I have bravely/foolishy (delete as you see fit) decided to run 26.2 miles at this years London Marathon this year. Wish me luck, and hopefully help me donate money to help Educate 50 orphans in Tanzania
The How
- First starting running in primary school
- Not much more until suffering my first ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) rupture in 2014 whilst playing football.
- Running became integral to my rehab as I had to avoid pivoting sports during that period. And there my love of running (short distances) grew.
- …I then tore my ACL (same leg) again, not once, but twice in 2015 and then in 2018. And my love (and hate) for running continued. The love – short distance, and the hate – long distance.
- 2024 – signed up to my first half. couldn’t make the start line due to a hamstring tear (note the injuries...)
- 2025 – did two halves (Hackney and Big Half), and the natural progression was a marathon.
In October ’25, I was then privileged that my community club (Stanmore Jafferys) entrusted me with one of their allocated spots for LM26.
The Why?
Well, I’m still asking myself (and my kids also have asked) as to why someone would want to run 26.2miles, and train for 16+ weeks to do so. Torture right…
Two reasons:
- An ambition of mine to do a marathon once in my life as a person goal…
- …and in doing so, raise some money for charity and give back to our wider community for what they have given me and my family
I’m supporting *Educate 50 - Charity to Educate 50 Orphans in Tanzania*: £350 covers a full year of schooling for one child
Education is super important to me as it is the basis of allowing a child a future in the big wide world…and it is in primary school where I caught the bug of running…
More detail: The money will go towards:
• School & Exam Fees: Full tuition and the registration costs for mandatory academic testing.
• Uniforms: Providing the clothing and shoes required to attend school with dignity.
• Learning Materials: All necessary textbooks, notebooks, and stationery for the year.
• Academic Support: Access to remedial classes to help students who have fallen behind due to past hardships.
Your contribution offers these children the stability they need to focus on their studies rather than their survival. By sponsoring a student, you are investing in a lifetime of opportunity.
