Father-of-two Sam Suriakumar is taking on the iconic 26.2-mile race on Sunday 23rd April to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research. He forfeited a well-deserved rest day to join Joe at a 5k fun run at Nonsuch Park in Sutton, where he received words of encouragement from the fitness guru.
“You’ve got to keep going mate, the marathon’s coming. You’re strong enough, your mindset’s strong, your body’s strong, you’ve just got to get out there and do the miles. I believe in you mate and I hope you raise loads of money and have an amazing run,” Joe told Sam.
Sam will be running the marathon alongside his brothers-in-law Niro Nirmalan and Ahilan Anpananthar, whom he says would “literally run through brick walls for me”.
His support of the charity comes after he was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma after suffering a cluster of grand mal seizure whilst on the train on his way home from work in February 2020.
Sam said: “The marathon will definitely be a challenge for me because I’m not a long-distance runner, but I’m fit and healthy and I’m going to use it as motivation to keep pushing myself. I’m looking forward to seeing the crowds and running it with my brothers-in-law, but I imagine it will be quite a big, emotional day.
“Brain Tumour Research has been really supportive and provided me with all the help it can; but, bigger than that, I want to live and the research the charity is doing will help me do that, as it will help other brain tumour patients I’ve met get better treatment and live longer lives.”
To support the team’s fundraising, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/londonmarathonsolebrothers