You’re my London Marathon inspiration - Wiltshire Special PC’s message to wife

In celebration of his 50^th year as a Special Constable, Richard Warren will be running his third London Marathon this Sunday (23 April 2017) to raise awareness and funding for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society and the Swindon Therapy Centre for MS.

Richard, 72, from Malmesbury said:” I am taking part in the London Marathon to celebrate the start of my 50^th year as a Special Constable and to celebrate the fact that I can still do it. This might be the last time. But then again it might not.”

Richard, who last year received an MBE in the Queen’s 2016 birthday honours list for voluntary services, began his career as a Special in 1967 with Somerset and Bath Special Constabulary, before it became Avon and Somerset and transferred to Wiltshire Police in 1980.

As an active Special Constable in his community you would think this keeps Richard busy, but he still finds time to volunteer as an operator of the barometric oxygen chamber at the Swindon Therapy Centre for MS, alongside training for the marathon.

Richard has said his wife Lynette, who has lived with MS since the 1980s is his inspiration to go the extra 26.2 miles. “She is always positive and cheerful and is very pleased when I am doing things for other people in the MS world.”

As well as getting in the training hours in preparation for the marathon, community minded Richard has been out running with a bin bag so he can help by collecting litter that has been dropped at the side of the road. Richard said: “During my training, to improve my start/stop recovery, I have been collecting and disposing of any litter I come across, so I can help to keep my part of Wiltshire completely litter free.”

You can support Richard in raising money for his good causes by going to Virgin Money Giving and searching for ‘Richard Warren’s 2017 London Marathon.’