Swapping the leafy lanes of Purbeck for the crowded streets of the capital, Swanage GP Dr Andy McIntosh is to take on the London Marathon to raise money for the charity Age UK.
He will be joined by others in Dorset including local MP Lloyd Hatton who has also got a place in the world famous race on Sunday 27th April 2025.
GP Andy McIntosh has worked at Swanage Medical Practice for the past four years
50,000 runners to tackle the iconic course
More than three quarters of a million people applied to take part in this year’s TCS London Marathon, the largest number ever, for any race in the world.
Some 50,000 runners will take on the iconic, 26-mile course from Greenwich to Westminster in what is the 45th edition of the event, looking to beat their personal best times and help good causes.
In 2024, more than £73.5 million was raised for charity, smashing the world record for the largest annual one-day fundraising event and organisers are hoping that the public will be even more generous this year.
With five marathons under his belt Andy McIntosh, who has been a GP in Swanage for the past four years, is hoping for good conditions in London which could help him complete the run in less than three and a half hours and raise as much as possible for Age UK.
The finish is in sight for London Marathon runners on The Mall, close to Buckingham Palace
“An accessible, easy thing to do”
Andy McIntosh said:
“I think marathons are not for everyone, although generally running within one’s limitations is good for physical and mental health.
“Running is high impact, although I don’t believe there is evidence that it harms joints, but personally I have run since my teenage years – I’ve found it an accessible, easy thing to do, to step out of your front door and go for a run at any time.
“But I am busy here at Swanage Medical Practice, and I’m busy with family life with three school age kids aged eleven, nine and seven. I don’t have a lot of time to do long runs, so I have tended to do park runs and the five or ten kilometre races in recent years.
“However, we have friends who did the London Marathon last year and like everyone else they said it’s something you must do once if you’re a keen runner, so I thought I would combine what I love doing with raising some money and give it a go.
“I wanted to choose a charity that wasn’t random but was close to me which is a fit with my work, and the demographic of Swanage is quite elderly, so it was an apt choice for me.”
Andy’s training runs have been built up to 20 miles with seven weeks to go to the big race
“I expect it’s going to hurt!”
Andy is hoping to raise at least £2,000 and has already passed the halfway mark, but said:
“I have used up all my bankers – my family and friends – so it would be good to reach out to the Swanage community for extra support.
“In my work as a Swanage GP I have seen what fantastic work Age UK does with the elderly here, how much support they give them with loneliness, how they are always there to give advice, and make sure the elderly get the benefits they are entitled to.
“I am fit enough to run a marathon tomorrow, I just need to stay injury free and avoid coughs and colds and I should be OK! I have been doing one long run a week, building up to 20 miles and finding time to fit in two or three shorter runs during the week as well.
“Now it is just about making the last six to eight miles as comfortable and easy as possible. I expect it’s going to hurt, but if I can raise a bit of money it will make those last few miles a bit easier!”
Looking suitably tired at the end of the Bournemouth Marathon, Andy wants to finish the London Marathon in three and a half hours
“Great for morale!”
Andy completed his first marathon around Loch Ness in Scotland while he was at medical school, and has since run others at Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Blackpool, and from Nice to Cannes in the South of France, but hasn’t taken on a full 26 mile run since 2017.
He added:
“Running can have an addictive quality when you get the endorphins, but for me it’s more about relaxing, I can zone out and forget about my stresses, it’s a way for me to reset myself. That might sound odd to some people, but it works for me!
“Weather wise, the end of April could be hot or it could be wet – ideally I would like neither, I’d prefer it to be cooler with not much of a wind. A spit of rain is OK, but I don’t want downpours to be slowing me down.
“In ideal conditions I will aim to complete the run in three and a half hours, and anything under that would be fantastic!
“My wife and children will be coming to London to cheer me on, as will my wife’s family. I will leave them to work out where best to stand, but hopefully they will be able to see me two or three times in a spot where the route doubles back on itself, that would be great for morale!”
South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton is also running the London Marathon and he is aiming to help military veterans in his constituency
“Support for those who served our country”
South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton, whose constituency includes Swanage and much of Purbeck, will be running the London Marathon to raise at least £5,000 for a Dorset charity which provides vital support to local military veterans and their families.
Lloyd Hatton said:
“The work of the Veterans’ Hub is nothing short of life-changing, offering trauma-based therapeutic support, mental health assistance, and a welcoming space for those who have served our country.
“I’ve seen first hand the difference they make in the lives of veterans across South Dorset, with many relying on The Veterans’ Hub as a place of safety, camaraderie, and practical support.
“Their commitment to helping our local veterans is inspiring, and I want to do my part to ensure their work continues.
“Running 26.2 miles is no easy feat, but it’s nothing compared to the sacrifices made by those who have served. I’m taking on this challenge to give back to a community that has given so much.”
One of many iconic scenes along the London Marathon route, as runners cross Tower Bridge
Lloyd’s first full marathon
Although Lloyd has run half marathons before, the 2025 London Marathon will be his first full race. His training schedule currently has him running up to 17 miles, increasing his distance whenever his busy Parliamentary and constituency business allows.
Money raised by Lloyd will help fund trauma-based support and other wellbeing activities for veterans and their families at the Hub, which is based in Weymouth but offers assistance to those in need across all of Dorset.
The Veterans’ Hub was set up as a part time venture in 2017 to provide a full-time counselling service for former servicemen and women struggling with depression and now provides a community allotment, a fully fitted gym and wellness rooms, and drop in clinics and advice services.
In July 2023, its team was presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, one of the last to be signed off by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Dorset’s Rhino Boy Chris Green has run 100 marathons dressed as a rhino
“A wonderful celebration of humanity”
Hugh Brasher, chief executive officer of London Marathon Events, said:
“The TCS London Marathon is an extraordinary day and a wonderful celebration of humanity, where tens of thousands of people take on an incredible challenge and do good for others.
“We salute every single participant who contributed to our 2024 world record breaking total of £73.5 million for thousands of charities which provide essential services to so many.
“It is astonishing that the London Marathon has now raised more than £1.3 billion for charity since 1981.”
Further information
- A sponsorship page for Andy McIntosh is being hosted by Enthuse
- Lloyd Hatton has a GoFundMe page running to raise funds
