A West Parley solicitor is pounding the pavements in preparation for his first-ever marathon, taking on the iconic London Marathon later this year to raise funds for a local homeless charity.
Mark Benham, 49, who works as head of real estate at Lester Aldridge solicitors, will join thousands of runners on Sunday 26 April 2026 after securing a charity place through YMCA Bournemouth.
“I’d quite like a challenge this year, I’m going to turn 50 later on this year, so it seemed like a good time to take on a new challenge,” said Mark. “I’ve always enjoyed watching it on TV, and I’ve had a few friends run it. It looks like a really great event.”
The reality of preparing for a 26.2-mile race has proved more demanding than Mark anticipated. He’s now running five or six times a week, more than he expected at this stage.
“This is my first time doing it,” he said. “Until recently, I hadn’t run more than 10k before. It’s harder than I thought.”
Mark recently completed a 42km training run as he ramps up his efforts, though he’s keeping his goals realistic. “Injury free is the number one aim, but I’d like to do as well as I can on the day,” he said.Mark’s fundraising efforts are already showing impressive results. He’s raised over £1,500 towards his £3,000 target. “I’m really pleased with how it’s gone so far,” he said.
Both Mark and Lester Aldridge have been long-time supporters of YMCA Bournemouth, participating in events like the charity’s sleepouts with local businesspeople. As a business, Lester Aldridge has raised nearly £40,000 for the YMCA.
“We like to give back to the community, and the YMCA plays such an important role in our local community,” Mark explained.
Lesley Fereti, a colleague of Mark’s at Lester Aldridge solicitors said:“We’re incredibly proud of Mark for taking on the London Marathon in support of YMCA England & Wales. YMCA is a charity that means a lot to us as a firm – their work makes a real difference to people’s lives, both locally and nationally.
“At Lester Aldridge, we’ve supported YMCA Bournemouth for many years, including taking part in the Big Sleep Easy, which Mark and I joined last year.
“It’s fantastic to see Mark continuing that commitment by putting in the miles for such an important cause.”
Despite the tough training schedule, Mark is looking forward to the experience of running through the capital, passing iconic landmarks including the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, the London Eye and Big Ben.
“As an event, in my mind, it’s the best marathon in the world,” he said.
Mark is one of the lucky few to secure a place in what has become the world’s most popular marathon. According to TCS, a record-breaking 1,133,813 people from the UK and across the globe applied in the public ballot for the 2026 London Marathon.
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