The chief executive of a West Midlands based loan fund is running his first marathon in aid of a local charity.
Paul Kalinauckas, chief executive of BCRS Business Loans, has committed to running this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon as a representative of the charity Energize, the County Sports Partnership for Shropshire.
Paul, who admits that the prospect of running 26.2 miles in three months’ time is still a little daunting, is aiming to raise £1,250 to help the charity extend its support for local people who are looking to use physical exercise to improve their health and wellbeing.
Explaining how running first became a major part of his life and why this next test is going to be both challenging and exhilarating, Paul commented:
“In my mid-50s, after being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and peaking at 16 stone, I decided to do something to improve my health.
“My journey into increased physical activity to reduce weight and improve my health started when I joined my local running club. Coupled with regular gym sessions, I have now reached my optimum weight of 12 stone.
“I feel so much more energised these days and love running with local running clubs or with my dogs – my sense of health and wellbeing has changed completely,” he explained.
“I am fearful of running a marathon as I am not a long-distance runner. I am comfortable with shorter distances up to 6 miles but need a new goal to stretch myself. Running the Virgin Money London marathon which is over 26 miles will be a super stretch for me but also demonstrate that whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve.
“It is important that we have people in our communities that can show the impact increased physical activity can have on health and wellbeing. We need role models that can not only share their experiences but inspire other to take action.
“It is for this reason that BCRS Business Loans has signed up to the Thrive at Work initiative run by the West Midlands Combined Authority, which aims to encourage employers to take an active role in supporting employee wellbeing.
BCRS Business Loans supports the growth of businesses across the West Midlands who are struggling to access finance from traditional lenders. Providing loans from £10,000 to £150,000 and boasting a relationship-based approach to lending, BCRS aims to leave no viable business unsupported.
Regular updates from Paul will be shared on Twitter and Facebook at @EnergizeSTW. And you can sponsor him at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/Energize
To discover more about BCRS Business Loans, visit www.bcrs.org.uk or call 0345 313 8410.
