7 hours ago
Kenilworth man to run Custard Corner marathon for Samaritans
Ian Beasley's life changed when, in February 2024, his best friend and best man at his wedding took his own Beasley described his friend - known as Noggins - as "a one-off" who was "brilliant at everything without even trying".On Saturday, he will run a marathon in his memory, raising money for the Samaritans charity which offers mental health the 26.2 miles is on no ordinary route - he will race around a small section of street in Kenilworth, dubbed Custard Corner because of its yellow-painted tarmac.
Custard Corner, on Station Road, was given the nickname after it was painted by Warwickshire County Beasley said it measured just 0.045 miles (72 metres) on his sports watch."It depends a little bit on how well the public behave, each lap is a little bit different depending on scooters, pushchairs and so on... but I would estimate about 600 laps," he told BBC CWR.
Other runners are turning out to keep Mr Beasley going."I've had lots of support, I run for Kenilworth Runners and I've got at least one runner for each mile... joining me," he said."My wife will join me at mile 13."Others looking to support him will run with him virtually - including his daughter in Montreal, and two members of the running club in the Isle of Man and Isle of Wight."There's someone joining from the Golden Gate Bridge as well I think," he added.
Of the challenge, Mr Beasley said: "It's very personal.""My best friend, best man at my wedding in 2001, sadly struggled for quite a while with mental health issues, and he didn't get the help he needed."On his fundraising page, which has a target of £10,000, he said Noggins "packed a lot into his half-century", and was "adored by everyone"."Noggins had this annoying habit of being brilliant at everything without even trying," he wrote."For example, he rocked up late to run Coventry Half Marathon after a boozy night out – without any proper training and barely enough time to stub out his cigarette before the race started... he finished it in 89 minutes."Mr Beasley told the BBC the idea for his inaugural "Custard Corner Marathon" took off, after he posted it on Facebook."The support was just phenomenal - from people who I've never met, through to local businesses that have really got behind the concept to support that financially, logistically, in any way they can.""The whole idea of mental health just resonates with people, you don't have to step too far within your own friendship circles to know someone who has a mental health struggle."
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