Didcot man Comby is running the London Marathon to give back to the local youth charity that helped him as a teen – and, as the people running after him with a camera, we can confirm he’s going fast.
It’s not long until the London Marathon, and one Oxfordshire man is especially committed to his training programme – Comby. He’s running to support TRAIN, not just a great charity, but the charity that helped him change his life.
“I don’t know where I’d be without them,” Comby says.
TRAIN CEO Ben Drabble wanted to give Comby the best chance of smashing his £2,000 fundraising goal and getting the word out about the life-changing work TRAIN does for young people in Didcot and Wallingford – so he contacted us. Two half-day shoots, one (slightly disappointing) sunrise, and some epic Ridgeway running later and we had loads of stellar content to share Comby’s story and help promote the work of TRAIN.
We crafted a 4-minute video, drafted a press release, and mailed both out to local media. Comby’s story made it into the Oxford Mail and onto the front page of the Didcot Herald (see below). We’re hoping he might pop up in some more news outlets too as the Marathon approaches.
Watch the video at the top of the page, donate to Comby’s fundraiser if you can(!), and read on to find out why TRAIN is so important for teenagers living in Didcot and Wallingford today.
“TRAIN just don’t give up on people. And I’m a good example of them not giving up on someone,” Comby says. TRAIN helped him when he was struggling as a teenager, involving him in a football programme, advocating for him in court when he got into trouble, visiting him in prison, and helping him secure work at Asda on his release.
Today, Comby considers himself “a normal 32 year old”, working and contributing to society. “I'm at probably a point in my life where I can give back to TRAIN now. So I think doing the London Marathon now, I can give back to the future of Didcot, of the young people of Didcot.”
Netflix drama Adolescence has put a spotlight on the dangers of smart phones, social media and toxic influencers on teenagers. And TRAIN CEO Ben Drabble says there are many other pressures on teenagers too, meaning the work of TRAIN is more needed than ever.
“The challenges that young people are facing today are unlike anything we've seen before,” he says. “Between the cost-of-living crisis, the mental health crisis and the impacts of Covid longer term, life’s really hard for young people. And in addition to that, the traditional support systems that used to be there have all been kind of taken away, you know, 73% cuts to youth funding by local authorities in the last 15 years…
“The result of that is that young people are falling through the cracks. Just in this last week, we heard of another local young person trying to take their own life, and another young person who’s been criminally exploited as well.”
By running the London Marathon, Comby hopes he can raise money for TRAIN so that more young people can receive the support he did – and not fall through the cracks left by all the cuts.
We’re cheering you on Comby! You’re going to absolutely smash it.
Want a team that will run in the mud with you at 6am in February* to get the job done? Hit us up for your next creative project – we’d love to collaborate.
*Other times and warmer months are available.
TRAIN is a youth charity supporting teenagers in Didcot and Wallingford, working for a society where young people are empowered, supported and heard.
