St Francis' Primary School, Castlewellan

Double Marathon Challenge for Friends of St Francis'

16th Feb 2026

Jon's story

After last year's successful Charity Sky Dive, this year I have decided to keep both feet firmly on the ground this year and push boundaries even further by taking on a Double Marathon Challenge;

TCS London Marathon - 26th April 2026

Belfast City Marathon - 3rd May 2026

Yes, you've read that right, 2 Marathons, in 2 cities, in 7 days with one mindset: keep going and to never give up! 🏃‍♂️💪

 

💚 About Friends of St Francis

Friends of St Francis is a school charity group made up of parents, carers, and friends of St Francis Primary School. The charity works in close partnership with the school and wider community, actively engaging parents to support education through funding and involvement, while nurturing a welcoming, family-focused environment that helps every child thrive and develop a lifelong love of learning.

 

🏅 Why I’m Doing This

Running one marathon is tough, but running two is an even bigger challenge! Last year, I raised over £1400 for my chosen charity. My son Ethan, who attends this school, has given me the opportunity to witness first hand the nurturing environment, high-quality education and unwavering dedication of the staff at St Francis Primary School, which could not be ignored. Therefore, I’m pushing myself physically and mentally to raise much needed funds to help support such a worthy cause.

 

🙏 How You Can Help

Please give as little or as much as you can, as your generosity will contribute towards supporting a better education.

Just Giving Link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jon-arnold-3

 

📊 Follow My Training

If you’d like to keep up with my training progress, feel free to follow me on Strava:

🏃‍♂️ https://strava.app.link/vf4Tyc2ss0b

 

👋 A Little Extra Motivation

If you’re local and see me out running the roads, a wave or a subtle beep would be hugely appreciated, your encouragement really does make all the difference!

 

Thank you so much for your support, it truly means the world to everyone involved at Friends of St Francis and to our wider community 💚