A parish councillor councillor is preparing to take on two more gruelling marathons at the age of 65 as he continues a fundraising mission which has already raised tens of thousands of pounds for cancer charities.
Bernie Kingston, who sits on Culcheth & Glazebury Parish Council as an independent, will run the Lisbon Marathon in October 2026 before taking on the London Marathon in April 2027 – his 21st and 22nd marathons – to raise much-needed funds for Marie Curie.
Bernie, who will be 65 by the time he lines up at the London Marathon, admits that the challenge is getting harder with age but is determined to keep running for a cause which is particularly close to his heart.
He lost his mother to secondary breast cancer 10 years ago, and she spent the final four months of her life receiving care at Marie Curie in Liverpool, which has since sadly closed to inpatients.
Bernie said the lack of Government funding for hospices was, in his view, “a disgrace”, and is hoping his latest challenge will help Marie Curie continue providing vital end-of-life care.
He has already raised more than £3,300 and has set his sights on reaching £5,000 for the charity.
“By the time London Marathon arrives in April I’ll be 65 and running marathons is getting harder,” Bernie said.
“Since 1983, when I ran the Mersey Marathon, I’ve raised tens of thousands of pounds for cancer charities including Marie Curie, running marathons all over the world.”
His impressive marathon CV includes races in New York, Florida Disneyworld, Berlin, Budapest, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Dublin, as well as five London Marathons, four Mersey/Liverpool Marathons, Brighton, Chester, Manchester and the London Virtual Marathon.
But for Bernie, the latest two races are about much more than adding to that list.
Marie Curie provides expert nursing and hospice care for people living with terminal illnesses, as well as a free support line and information for people dealing with dying, death and bereavement.
The charity warns that every five minutes someone dies without receiving the care they need.
Bernie is hoping local people will get behind his latest challenge and help him reach his £5,000 target.
“The race is on to help fix end-of-life care – to help Marie Curie nurses and support more people,” he said.
“Step by step, we can do this together.”
Donations to Bernie’s Lisbon and London Marathon challenge can be made through his fundraising page: Bernie Kingston’s Marie Curie fundraising page
Every donation, he says, will provide an extra incentive when the miles begin to take their toll.
