Jack has lots of support at marathon fundraiser

RAISING over £5,150 for Guernsey Mind, Jack Trott completed his first marathon on Saturday in memory of Jacob Mahy.

Jack Trott ran a marathon for Guernsey Mind in memory of his friend Jacob who took his own life in September 2019. He started at 9.30am at the top of the Val Des Terres and followed the usual Marathon route up the west coast and back around to town, ending up by the Bathing Pools. He completed it in 3 hours and 45 minutes with his friends who joined him in sections of the route. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29356186)

Originally he planned to complete the distance at the Guernsey Marathon before it was postponed to October.

Since fundraising had already begun, Mr Trott decided to go for it ahead of stage three to not lose momentum: ‘The support has been incredible, I had company the whole way – I think seven people with me to start and eight to finish’ Mr Trott said.

Mr Mahy was Mr Trott’s close friend and colleague, so several other workmates accompanied Mr Trott for stints of the total 26.24-mile distance.

Jack Trott. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29356176)

‘Seeing messages from Jacob’s family on the fundraising page has really meant a lot. I hope when they saw someone was doing something in his memory they know that we all haven’t stopped thinking about him.’

At 9.30am the group of eight left Le Val des Terres, heading to Pleinmont and around the coast, to finish at La Vallette, where roughly 25 people were gathered.

‘That was a long way, but it has been all right. I was hoping to finish it in 3 hours 35 minutes, but instead did 3 hours 44. It was a little bit windy on the west coast – having a breeze was nice but a bit demoralising at times.’

Lockdown offered a good chance to get into a training routine with less distractions.

Jack Trott ran a marathon for Guernsey Mind in memory of his friend Jacob who took his own life in September 2019. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29356192)

‘I moved it forward a week because pubs are reopening, the official Guernsey Marathon was meant to happen next Sunday.’

Mr Trott’s godfather is a keen marathon runner and offered some training, hydration product and nutrition advice. Videos were posted on social media at various points of the route.

Jack Trott ran a marathon for Guernsey Mind in memory of his friend Jacob who took his own life. He completed it in 3 hours and 45 minutes with his friends who joined him in sections along route. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29356180)

Cars beeped when they saw the shirt that Guernsey Mind had printed with ‘in memory of Jacob’.

‘Thank you to everyone for your donations and support, there has been a proper community spirit that has showed.’

Jack Trott's friends joined him in sections of the marathon route. L-R Fergus Moriarty, Alex Lee-Barber, Jack Trott, Adam Smith and Frank Tobin. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29356190)

Initially the target was set at £500, which Mr Trott did not expect to meet.

‘I’ll keep my fundraising page open for another two weeks, until around 10 April. Hopefully we get lots raised to help Guernsey Mind keep doing the incredible work they do.’

Visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/jack-trott96 to donate or to see his Strava training routes and final run.