The Reverend Bertrand Olivier, Vicar of All Hallows by the Tower, official church of the London marathon, put on his running shoes again this weekend for his sixth London marathon in aid of good causes in London and abroad. He will have only a brief respite however, as within the fortnight he will also run the Madrid marathon during his post-Easter break.
Bertrand finished in 4 hours and 7 minutes and was joined in the London marathon by All Hallows’ Lay Minister, Martin Carr, who finished in 3 hours and 59 minutes and raised over £2,000 for Action Aid.
The evening before the London Marathon, Bertrand conducted at All Hallows’ annual London Marathon Thanksgiving Service, which celebrates and give thanks for all that has been achieved through the Marathon and for the gift of sport which enables us to cross the barriers of different nations, cultures, colours and faiths. The service was attended by Marathon founder John Disley and hundreds of hopeful runners and well-wishers.
Bertrand, who began to run seriously only five years ago, has made his marathons the focus of extensive fundraising for good causes in the parish, Diocese and beyond, raising nearly £80,000 so far. This year, Bertrand is raising funds for the two charities benefitting from the Diocese of London’s Lent Appeal; the Angola London Mozambique Association (ALMA) providing support to children, families and communities in those two countries, as well as for the Bishop of London’s Mission Fund, supporting projects in communities in London.
Bertrand Olivier, Vicar of All Hallows by the Tower, commented:
“I love running, because it puts me in touch with the greater reality of God in this magnificent and diverse city that is London, and because it helps keeping me fit and sane in the midst of a very eclectic kind of ministry in the City of London.”
You can sponsor Bertrand’s two marathons in a fortnight by visiting https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/bdo2014 and click here to find out more about the Lent Appeal 2014.