David's London marathon fundraiser for Nexus NI
David Cairns
My Story
Why i'm running the London Marathon 2026
At 47 years of age, with knees that audibly complain when I stand up too quickly and a long, proud history of thinking about exercise rather than doing it, I have decided that running my first ever marathon is a perfectly sensible life choice.
I am not a natural runner. I have no inspirational childhood backstory involving cross-country races. Until fairly recently, my relationship with running could best be described as occasional, and reluctant. When i started Couch to 5k again in April 2025 this wasn't on the horizon. So committing to 26.2 miles around London feels like a bold mix of optimism, denial, and poor long-term planning.
This is surprising to everyone, including myself.
Friends have asked whether this is the next stage of a mid-life crisis. I prefer to think of it as a mid-life fundraising opportunity with mild physical peril.
But I’ll keep going. Because this run isn’t really about proving anything about my fitness. It’s about supporting a charity that does work which genuinely changes lives.
Why I’m asking for your support
I'm running for Nexus NI, the leading organisation within Northern Ireland supporting individuals impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships.
Every day, Nexus provides counselling, advocacy, and specialist support to people whose lives have been profoundly affected by trauma. Their work is quiet, compassionate, and life-changing — helping survivors move from crisis toward recovery, dignity, and hope.
Nexus also manages the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline and I'd encourage anybody who needs advice to make contact on 08088021414 or on the link at the bottom of this page.
As a trustee of Nexus NI, I have seen first-hand the dedication, professionalism, and humanity of the staff and volunteers who do this work. I’ve also seen how vital sustainable funding is to keep services available, accessible, and responsive when people are ready to reach out for help.
If my legs can carry me around the London Marathon route, then together we can help Nexus NI continue to be there for those who need support the most.
Every donation — genuinely, no matter the size — helps fund essential services and supports people on their journey towards recovery, dignity, and hope.
So please sponsor me, cheer me on, and feel free to laugh along as i train for the marathon.
Thank you for your generosity, encouragement, and belief in the work of Nexus NI. It truly means more than you know.
#BreakTheCycle
https://nexusni.org/about/
https://dsahelpline.org/
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Target
£1,000
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Raised so far
£1,340
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Number of donors
37
My Story
Why i'm running the London Marathon 2026
At 47 years of age, with knees that audibly complain when I stand up too quickly and a long, proud history of thinking about exercise rather than doing it, I have decided that running my first ever marathon is a perfectly sensible life choice.
I am not a natural runner. I have no inspirational childhood backstory involving cross-country races. Until fairly recently, my relationship with running could best be described as occasional, and reluctant. When i started Couch to 5k again in April 2025 this wasn't on the horizon. So committing to 26.2 miles around London feels like a bold mix of optimism, denial, and poor long-term planning.
This is surprising to everyone, including myself.
Friends have asked whether this is the next stage of a mid-life crisis. I prefer to think of it as a mid-life fundraising opportunity with mild physical peril.
But I’ll keep going. Because this run isn’t really about proving anything about my fitness. It’s about supporting a charity that does work which genuinely changes lives.
Why I’m asking for your support
I'm running for Nexus NI, the leading organisation within Northern Ireland supporting individuals impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships.
Every day, Nexus provides counselling, advocacy, and specialist support to people whose lives have been profoundly affected by trauma. Their work is quiet, compassionate, and life-changing — helping survivors move from crisis toward recovery, dignity, and hope.
Nexus also manages the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline and I'd encourage anybody who needs advice to make contact on 08088021414 or on the link at the bottom of this page.
As a trustee of Nexus NI, I have seen first-hand the dedication, professionalism, and humanity of the staff and volunteers who do this work. I’ve also seen how vital sustainable funding is to keep services available, accessible, and responsive when people are ready to reach out for help.
If my legs can carry me around the London Marathon route, then together we can help Nexus NI continue to be there for those who need support the most.
Every donation — genuinely, no matter the size — helps fund essential services and supports people on their journey towards recovery, dignity, and hope.
So please sponsor me, cheer me on, and feel free to laugh along as i train for the marathon.
Thank you for your generosity, encouragement, and belief in the work of Nexus NI. It truly means more than you know.
#BreakTheCycle
https://nexusni.org/about/
https://dsahelpline.org/
