Latest news with #LondonMarathons
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Husband and wife duo retire from Glasgow Post Office after 30 years
Dilbag and Jatinder Sandhu officially retired from the Halfwayhouse branch on Paisley Road West in Cardonald on May 28. Over the past three decades, the couple – who worked as subpostmasters - ran three Post Office locations across the city, including one in Anderston and two in the Southside. Ahead of their retirement, Dilbag explained that they had 'enjoyed every moment'. Subpostmaster Dilbag Sandhu and his wife Jatinder pictured at their Post Office at 1577 Paisley Road West, Cardonald (Image: Colin Mearns) He went on to highlight the overwhelming kindness the family had received from the people of Cardonald over the last few decades. Dilbag said: 'The Post Office was like our second home. You get to see different people every day, you provide a service, and they respect you. 'I'm feeling very emotional about retiring. We have received so many cards, flowers, and chocolates. 'When I read the cards, I get a tear in my eye. My wife and I enjoyed every moment because the people are so nice, I can't explain it.' (Image: Colin Mearns) READ NEXT: Glasgow couple celebrate life-changing National Lottery win The duo first joined the Post Office in 1990 after previously running a grocery and off-sales store. During their time in the Southside, Dilbag completed four London Marathons, 10 half marathons in Glasgow, and multiple Great North Runs – raising thousands of pounds for charity. He explained that he was inspired to begin his running journey after a customer was diagnosed with cancer. Before this, Dilbag says he had never run in his life. (Image: Colin Mearns) He added: 'I had never run in my life, but suddenly it came to my mind because one of our customers had lung cancer and he was such a decent man. 'We used to visit him in the hospital from time to time, and I told him that I would run for him. That man supported me so much. 'That's where my running journey began. When I first took part in the London Marathon, every customer supported me, and we raised more than £1000 for a cancer charity. 'I was planning to fly to London on the Saturday as the event was on the Sunday, and there were four or five ladies who came to see me off and give me their blessings. 'This is something I cannot forget in my life.' READ NEXT: Glasgow's newest mural has the East End talking - here is why Dilbag also noted another one of the couple's favourite memories of working at their previous location on Lammermoor Avenue and what their retirement plans are. They had helped one of their regular customers celebrate her 100th birthday at the store. Dilbag commented: 'For a couple of years, there was a lady who used to come in and she would always give us motherly love. 'We would sometimes visit her at her house, and I told her that for her 100th birthday, we could celebrate at the Post Office. 'It was wonderful. We are very, very sad to be leaving. Several weeks ago, we had our first grandchild in 15 years, so we will go visit him. 'Then, after that, there are a few things to be done around the house. Once that is done we will plan further.'
Fibre2Fashion
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Germany's Puma hits Q1 2025 sales of $2.27 bn amid global challenges
German sportswear brand Puma has reported first-quarter (Q1) 2025 sales of €2.1 billion (~$2.27 billion), reflecting a 1.3 per cent decline on a reported basis but a slight 0.1 per cent increase on a currency-adjusted basis (ca). The gross profit margin decreased by 60 basis points (bps) to 47 per cent. Puma's wholesale business declined by 3.6 per cent (ca) to €1,529.5 million, with the softness largely attributed to the US and China, as expected. In contrast, the direct-to-consumer (DTC) segment grew by 12 per cent (ca) to €546.5 million, driven by a 17.3 per cent (ca) increase in e-commerce and an 8.9 per cent (ca) rise in owned and operated retail store sales. The DTC share climbed to 26.3 per cent, up from 23.5 per cent in Q1 2024, Puma said in a press release. Sales in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region rose by 5.1 per cent (ca) to €891.7 million, fuelled by strong double-digit growth in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA). In the Americas, sales declined by 2.7 per cent (ca) to €753.7 million, primarily due to weaker performance in North America, although Latin America achieved robust double-digit growth. Meanwhile, the Asia/Pacific region saw sales fall by 4.7 per cent (ca) to €430.5 million, impacted by continued softness in Greater China. Puma has reported sales of €2.1 billion (~$2.27 billion) in Q1 2025, down 1.3 per cent but up 0.1 per cent on currency-adjusted basis. DTC grew 12 per cent, while wholesale fell 3.6 per cent due to softness in the US and China. EMEA sales rose, while Asia-Pacific and Americas declined. Footwear grew 2.4 per cent. Puma maintained its FY25 outlook, excluding impacts from new US tariffs. The footwear sales increased by 2.4 per cent (ca) to €1,186 million, driven by the running, basketball and sportstyle categories. Sales in apparel decreased by 1.5 per cent (ca) to €594.3 million while accessories decreased by 5.7 per cent to €295.7 million due to golf. In terms of product development, Puma unveiled 'Go Wild', its largest brand campaign to date, with the first chapter spotlighting running. The brand motivated runners at the Boston and London Marathons with the debut of its fastest-ever racing shoe, the 'Fast-R Nitro Elite 3'. In fitness, Puma and Hyrox introduced their first joint collection, comprising co-branded footwear and performance apparel. Additionally, Puma achieved a major sustainability milestone in 2024 by producing 90 per cent of its products using recycled or certified materials. 'In the first quarter and despite a challenging environment, Puma achieved sales on last year's level in constant currencies. Our DTC business, driven by e-commerce, grew by 12 per cent, while our wholesale business declined by 4 per cent—primarily because of the US and China. Our adjusted operating profit came in broadly in line with our expectations,' said Markus Neubrand, chief financial officer (CFO) at Puma. 'Despite the challenges we had to face in the first quarter, such as a slightly decreasing gross profit margin and higher operating expenses, we remain committed to executing our next level cost efficiency program which is progressing as planned. We are on track to have approximately 500 corporate positions reduced globally by the end of the second quarter 2025,' added Neubrand. For full FY25, the company forecasts adjusted EBIT (excluding one-time costs) between €520 million and €600 million, with capital expenditure (capex) projected at around €300 million. The outlook does not account for potential impacts from US tariffs announced after the company's initial forecast on March 11, 2025, added the release. The company further anticipates ca sales growth in the low- to mid-single-digit percentage range for the full financial year. Puma is actively implementing its nextlevel cost efficiency programme, which is expected to result in one-time costs of up to €75 million in 2025. 'In the evolving global trade landscape and amidst macroeconomic volatility, we concentrate on controllable factors and diligently serve our retail partners, consumers, and brand ambassadors. Our outlook for the financial year 2025 remains unchanged. Due to the highly uncertain implications from the US tariffs, we are not quantifying the potential implications at this stage. We already reduced US imports from China, and we will continue to remain agile and ready to manage the increased market volatility and swiftly respond to changing external conditions,' said Neubrand. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kirsty Gallacher posts emotional throwback snaps from running two London Marathons - and reveals heart-wrenching inspiration behind her 2023 effort
Kirsty Gallacher posted a series of emotional throwback snaps from two previous London Marathons to her Instagram on Sunday. The TV star, 49, posed with her two sons Oscar, 18, and Jude, 14, on the Golden Jubilee Footbridge after the 2023 edition of the charity race. She wore a fluorescent orange and black tracksuit top and black jogging bottoms with black trainers as she put one arm around each of her proud boys. Kirsty also shared a snap of her in her white sleeveless marathon top, wearing a silver watch ahead of the event. Another picture saw her with a friend of hers, Emma Bishop, who suffered from lung cancer and was the inspiration behind her 2023 run before sadly passing away last year. She also uploaded sweet photos from the 2019 edition, wearing a white sleeveless top for the event as she posed with two pals. A final snap featured Kirsty flexing her muscles as she raised her medal towards the camera. The former Sky Sports News presenter penned an emotional caption explaining Emma's impact on her decision to run the race. She said: 'Another incredible @londonmarathon today & watching it on the TV this year I couldn't but reflect on the two that I took part in, in 2019 & 2023. 'Both for incredibly worthy causes and such powerful experiences but the last one more poignant, for @royalmarsden, because of a special lady @emsbishop. Emma & I met early in 2023, she was battling lung cancer but boy she was a fighter! 'A truly wonderful human being, inspiring so many with her attitude & strength & tenacious fundraising. She also completed the London marathon which was some feat! 'Sadly beautiful Emma lost her battle with cancer at the end of 2024. 'So well done to all those who took part this year & to those who are inspired to do it, but just not sure….. do it!!!!' It comes after Kirsty shared sweet snaps of her ex-rugby player boyfriend Darren Clayton, 38, as he joined her at work. The pair have been together for around a year and five months after meeting through their two mutual friends - Gabby and Kenny Logan. And on Tuesday, Kirsty shared snaps of Darren joining her at the Global studios, where she hosts the Gold Radio drivetime show. 'Take your boyfriend to work day! @goldradio,' Kirsty captioned the snaps, where the smitten couple were also seen smiling at one another. But Gabby, who hosts Gold Radio podcast The Sports Agents, was quick to make a cheeky comment about the snaps. 'Darren looks like he's putting your ponytail. lovely pic though,' Gabby wrote which prompted a laughing face from Kirsty. 'Pulling not putting! If only I'd worn my glasses' Gabby added, to which Kirsty replied: 'Haha.' It's been no secret how smitten Kirsty is with Darren, who is a businessman as well as an athlete, after they first spoke to each other while attending a fundraising event. And last month, Kirsty looked to the future as she admitted that although she never thought she would get married again following her split from Paul Sampson, tying a knot for a second time could be on the cards. It's been no secret how smitten Kirsty is with Darren, who is a businessman as well as an athlete, after they first spoke to each other while attending a fundraising event The former GB News host told The Sun: 'We do talk about getting married. Funnily, he's much more into the idea of marriage than I am. I'm very much like: "Do we need that?" 'For him, it's very important to actually have that union and [be able to] say it. And I said: "Well, we can say it. Do we have to do the marriage?"' She continued: 'I think an engagement is wonderfully romantic and that would do for me. That would be enough, because it's the whole: "I want to be with you forever."' However, Kirsty made it clear that she's not opposed to the idea and admitted that if Darren wanted to get married, she would.
Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Times
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook: from opening batting to London Marathon
England's greatest opening partnership, Sir Andrew Strauss, 48, a veteran of two previous London Marathons, and Sir Alastair Cook, 40, are both running on Sunday to raise money for the Ruth Strauss Foundation set up in memory of Andrew's wife, who died in 2018 from a rare form of lung cancer. Sir Alastair Cook The training has been really enjoyable but also quite strange. Some days you absolutely fly. You do a lot of plodding stuff and then you have effort days where you run shorter distances but quicker. Some days doing that you are cruising and some days it's a real effort. On Wednesday night I did a final run of 7km and I felt terrible. It was meant to be an easy run
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
‘I went from a prisoner at home to running the London Marathon with stage four cancer'
Linda Jackson, who is living with stage 4 metastatic cancer, is running this year's London Marathon alongside her son David for Sue Ryder, Leckhampton Court Hospice Since it began in 1981, the London Marathon has raised over £1.3 billion for charity, making it the world's largest annual one-day fundraising event. On Sunday April 27, more than 56,000 people are expected to line up at this year's start line and take on the iconic 26.2-mile route, including Linda Jackson, 58, and her 23-year-old son David. Having first been diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2011, Linda is living with stage 4 metastatic cancer and is running the marathon for Sue Ryder, Leckhampton Court Hospice. Despite remembering watching one of the first ever London Marathons as a child and thinking she could never take part herself, she's looking forward to her latest challenge and is determined to cross the finish line. READ MORE: 'I had to learn how to walk again - now I'm running a marathon' 'I was first diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine tumour which had spread to my liver when Dave, my son, was 10. It was a complete rollercoaster. While they were monitoring me and managing my cancer, they picked up that I had primary breast cancer. I then went on the primary breast cancer journey of a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A couple of years later they picked up that my breast cancer had spread to my bones, my lungs, my ribs and spine,' she tells the Mirror. 'It's all a bit of a blur. You just live day by day and make the most of it. About two years ago I was struggling to breathe and found climbing the stairs a bit tricky. I went back to the doctor and they found that my lung metastases were growing and my lung was gradually filling up with fluid. I was really quite breathless, almost a prisoner in my own home at that stage.' Having spotted a banner for Move Against Cancer's '5K Your Way' group while in the waiting room in the oncology unit one day, Linda decided to head to a local Parkrun event in May 2022. From there, everything changed. 'One of the oncologists said, 'I'll run with you, Linda'. I said 'no, I'm going to be walking. I'll be huffing and puffing, but I want to do it. I want a sense of achievement'. So she walked with me. It was like having a one-to-one tutorial and she talked to me about steroids, dietary needs and how exercise was key. I asked how much more damage I'd cause to my lungs by exercising and she told me that the more you exercise, the better it is for your body, your chemotherapy and everything,' she explains. 'I thought the best project I could work on was me, so I looked at my diet and tried to walk more and gradually things improved. I completed the Couch to 5K within about nine months and I was able to actually move around the Parkrun.' Having progressed with her running, it was this time last year that the thought of taking on the London Marathon first crossed Linda's mind. After her son David attended the event to cheer on a friend, he eagerly entered the ballot – as did Linda. Although neither secured a place via the ballot, Linda was able to secure a charity spot and is now raising money for Sue Ryder, Leckhampton Court Hospice. What's more, David will be her support runner. 'Being able to have a support runner was a huge relief to me. I initially asked my husband if he'd be one. He's been hugely supportive, but he replied, 'I'll train with you, I'll do what you want, but I'm not gonna do the marathon', so then I asked Dave how he felt about the prospect,' she says. Despite giving her son time to think over the decision, his response was an immediate yes and the pair have spent months training together. 'It's been fab. We've gone to Cardiff where he's a post-grad medical student. He's accompanied me and has shown me around and we've plodded the pavements. He's worked miracles and increased my confidence. I couldn't have a better support runner. We've had an awful lot of fun too,' Linda explains. As part of the training process, Linda has discovered the power of exercise. Where once she would exercise three times a week, she's been able to build up her training, though has listened to her body every step of the way. 'I pledge that exercise is the best medicine and it's something that you can do for yourself, so that's helped me and motivated me through this,' she says. 'I downloaded an app at Christmas time when everybody else who's training for a marathon does. I tried to do what they suggested with the exercises, but I realised the app didn't know when I was having an off day, or when I was on my chemo, yet I was supposed to do a long run. I thought, I'm going to have to be kind to myself. If you can't do it today, there's another day tomorrow. Some days I had to turn around but on other days, I felt great. I just worked with how my body felt, really.' And during the harder moments, Linda has found support in the people around her. 'It has been challenging being on chemotherapy. The biggest challenge, I think, was getting huge blisterings on my hands and feet, but I couldn't feel them because of my neuropathy,' she explains. 'Move Against Cancer has been really supportive. Lucy Gossage is an oncologist who set up the 5K Your Way initiative and at times when my feet were blistering and hands were puffy as a side effect of some of the chemo, I contacted her and she took the time to message me. I was so positive and determined to do it, so I reached out to those that were positive and could help me with some of the challenges that I was facing.' With this year's London Marathon on the horizon, the final preparations are underway for Linda, David and their fellow runners. Although the nerves are naturally there, she can't wait to be in her spot at the start line. 'Once I get to the start line, I know I'll be absolutely delighted. I read some data that 98% of people who get to that start line will finish. I thought that's such a positive message,' she says. 'I've got friends and family that are turning up who have plans on how they're going to support us. I just want it to be a fun day. I want it to be a great memory and I'm really looking forward to it.'
