70‑year‑old’s MyWay plan
A 70‑year‑old man from Collingham plans to complete a London Marathon 'MyWay' challenge on his birthday, traveling from Lincoln to Collingham to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk) The story frames the effort as both a personal milestone and a local fundraising push. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk)
Andrew McGill, 69, plans to mark his 70th birthday by covering 26.2 miles from Lincoln to Collingham for Alzheimer’s Society on London Marathon day, April 26. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk) The Collingham resident told the Newark Advertiser he will walk and run the route as part of TCS London Marathon MyWay, the virtual version of the race that lets entrants complete the marathon distance on a course of their choice. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) McGill was born on April 26, 1956, and this year’s MyWay event also falls on Sunday, April 26, 2026. His planned route leaves Lincoln, passes through Skellingthorpe, uses nature trails and Fledborough Viaduct, then heads through South Clifton, Girton and Besthorpe before a final circuit in Collingham. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) London Marathon MyWay requires participants to complete 26.2 miles outdoors within 24 hours on marathon day, using the official event app to record the distance. The 2026 MyWay event has sold out, according to London Marathon Events. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 1) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 2) McGill told the paper that a year ago he did not think he could have walked 10 miles, framing the challenge as a measure of how much his fitness has changed in 12 months. He chose Alzheimer’s Society as the beneficiary for the fundraiser. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk) The charity he is backing says dementia is the United Kingdom’s biggest killer, and the latest government dementia update says its England data runs through December 2025 on diagnosis rates, referrals, prescribing and care plans. (alzheimers.org.uk) (gov.uk) Alzheimer’s Society is also preparing for Dementia Action Week from May 18 to May 24, 2026, its annual awareness campaign. McGill’s marathon attempt comes two weeks before that national push. (alzheimers.org.uk) Collingham has seen other local charity endurance efforts in recent years, including firefighters from Collingham Fire Station running the Lincoln 10K in full kit in April 2024 and earlier sponsored walks tied to village causes. McGill’s plan follows that same local pattern of turning long-distance events into community fundraising. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk 1) (newarkadvertiser.co.uk 2) If he completes the course on April 26, McGill will finish a marathon-length trip on the day he turns 70, ending where he lives after starting in Lincoln. (newarkadvertiser.co.uk)
