How One Man's Desire to Run is Benefiting Charities: Paul's Story

Last month we shared the story of how former Town Councillor Paul Keeling was successful in his first half marathon. Here Paul shares in his own words how running has changed his life for the better.

Runners, including Paul gather with excitement at the starting line of a marathon in London, under clear skies and lush trees.

A year ago, I could only run a couple of miles around Cheadle before I had to stop and rest. Even short runs felt tough, and I never imagined I’d end up doing the races and distances I’ve now completed.

I started building things slowly, one run at a time, and eventually began taking part in 5K park runs at places like Trentham Gardens, Tamworth, the Eden Project, and even Land’s End. From there, I pushed myself further and completed 10K races in Northwich and Derby.

Then came a huge milestone for me — my very first half marathon (13.1 miles) at Alton Towers Resort.

I never thought I’d be capable of running that distance when I first started. Since then, I’ve gone on to complete the Uttoxeter Half Marathon and the London Half Marathon.

As the distances and challenges have grown, I’ve also started running for charities that mean a lot to me. I ran the London Half Marathon in support of the British Heart Foundation, and thanks to the kindness of family and friends, I managed to raise £300.

My next charity challenge will be the Cardiff Half Marathon in October, where I’ll be raising money for the World Wildlife Fund. Then in May 2027, I’ll be taking on the Edinburgh Half Marathon to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Looking back now, it’s hard to believe how much has changed in just 12 months. What started as struggling through a couple of miles, trying to improve my fitness, has turned into a real passion for running, challenging myself, and hopefully helping good causes along the way.

To Support Paul Keeling in running the Half Marathon in October, please go to this link:

Hello! I’m fundraising for Cancer Research UK. Here’s my JustGiving page, if you’d like to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Keeling2026?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA

To Support Paul Keeling in running the Half Marathon in May 2027 please go to this link:- 

I am fundraising for WWF - UK in the Cardiff Half Marathon. Here is my page if you would like to support: https://cardiffhalf26.enthuse.com/pf/paul-keeling?utm_source=share&utm_medium=whatsapp

How a Desire to Run is Benefiting Charities: Paul's Story - created 19th May 2026