Joe Marler Takes on Manchester Marathon for British Heart Foundation

Joe Marler, a Senior Quantity Surveyor at Makers Construction Limited, is lacing up his running shoes to take on the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon on April 27th. With a fundraising goal of £750 – but a dream target of over £1,000 – Joe is running to support the British Heart Foundation (BHF), a charity close to his heart.

Joe, 29, has always had running a marathon on his bucket list, but his journey to the start line has not been without challenges. He began training before Christmas 2024 but faced a major setback when he dislocated his knee on December 12th. Unable to train until January 1st, 2025, Joe remained determined and gradually rebuilt his fitness through alternative exercises such as walking, golf, and gym work. He has also focused on improving his diet, reducing alcohol, and following the training guidance of Chris Evans’ book “119 Days to Go – How to Train for Your First Marathon.”  Joe has even embraced daily outdoor ice baths to aid recovery. Initially lasting just a few seconds, his tolerance has now built up to several minutes, helping his muscles recover from the intense training regimen.

Since committing to the marathon, Joe has lost over two stone in weight—an incredible transformation for someone many wouldn’t have thought had two stone to lose in the first place! His only previous running experience was participating in the Fradley 10K with the Makers Team back in 2015, making this marathon an entirely new challenge.

When asked why he chose to run for the British Heart Foundation, Joe shared a deeply personal motivation: “A friend of mine has been living with heart conditions for several years and has greatly benefited from an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). This small but life-saving device which monitors heart rhythms and can correct dangerous irregularities, all while being connected to the internet to send real-time data directly to the hospital.”

Joe is proud to support the BHF, an organisation that funds approximately £100 million of research each year into heart and circulatory diseases, as well as conditions like stroke, vascular dementia, and diabetes. “Thanks to the remarkable advancements in technology funded by the British Heart Foundation, the number of people dying from heart and circulatory diseases in the UK has been halved. But there’s still more work to be done. With your help, further research can continue to develop even more advanced treatments and save even more lives.”

Taking on the marathon is no small feat for Joe, who admits, “It might come as a surprise to you that I am not naturally a great runner. Combine that with the temptation of over 130 pubs in Manchester, and this is definitely a challenge for me! So, any donation, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated and gets us one step closer to beating heart disease.”

The 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon, taking place on April 27th, is one of Europe’s largest and most renowned running events. It features a 26.2-mile route with just 55 meters of elevation gain, making it a prime opportunity for runners to achieve personal bests. With 36,000 participants and 125,000 spectators lining the streets, the atmosphere is set to be electric. The race starts at Old Trafford Stadium and winds through some of Manchester’s most iconic locations and finishes at The University of Manchester on Oxford Road.

All places for the 2025 event sold out more than five months in advance, highlighting the race’s growing popularity.

Joe’s fundraising efforts are already underway, and he is calling on friends, family, colleagues, and supporters to contribute to his campaign. Donations will support the British Heart Foundation’s ongoing research and help save lives across the UK.

Speaking about his challenge, Joe said: “Running a marathon has always been a personal goal of mine, and doing it for such a great cause makes it even more special. The British Heart Foundation does incredible work, and I’m proud to support them. Despite my injury setback, I’m determined to cross that finish line and raise as much money as possible.”

Joe’s incredible journey—from overcoming injury to significant lifestyle changes—serves as an inspiration to many. Those who would like to support Joe’s fundraising efforts can make a donation via his fundraising page…

https://www.justgiving.com/page/joe-marler-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Simon Lamb, Managing Director said “My wife delivered Joe, when she was a midwife so he is like an adopted son!  He has trained immensely hard and has been totally dedicated to his training to ensure he finishes.  Everyone at Makers has total faith in his ability, unfortunately the “ice bath” photos are too sensitive to show so we have to make do with his Fradley 10K, in which he probably still looks the same.  We wish Joe all the very best and look forward to seeing him cross the finish in Manchester”.

Best Wishes and Good Luck from all at Makers