Two Ascona Group members of staff have fulfilled a ‘bucket list wish’ to take part in the London Marathon, helping to raise thousands for Wales Air Ambulance.
Geoff Harding and James Cronesberry were ‘extremely proud’ to wear the charity colours as they made their way around the 26.2-mile course on Sunday, 26 April 2026.
They joined thousands of runners who travelled from across the UK and beyond to compete.
Just over a week on from their mammoth challenge, and the pair are ‘already considering whether to sign up for the 2027 event’, with the ballot open.
Geoff who is Head of Fuel Development & Strategy is a keen runner but had never competed in a marathon before.
He said: “It has been an incredible experience, one I will never, ever forget. The TV is great at getting the event across, but you really need to be amongst the crowd.
“You could feel there was a real buzz in the air, everyone was hyped and ready for the off, and when you go, you just have to stay focused on the job.”
The weather was glorious, with temperatures reaching 65 degrees Fahrenheit and Geoff added: “We could not have asked for better weather! The sun was out and the spectators got to enjoy the whole experience too. They were cheering everyone on, which adds to it.
“It makes you want to do it again, and to be honest we are considering it.”
Both Geoff and James, who are friends outside of work too, spent months preparing for the event after securing Charity places.
They work for one of the UK’s fastest growing forecourt operators, which has a long-standing partnership with the lifesaving service. Ascona Group has fundraised over £350,000 for the Charity since 2022.
Geoff said: “We are hugely grateful to our family, friends and work colleagues who have been hugely supportive and encouraging us.
“It is not easy; you have got to set aside time to prepare for something like this, so we are looking forward to having our evenings and weekends back.”
Running in the London Marathon was ‘a dream come true’ for James, who is a former footballer turned fuel supply specialist.
Over the years he has entered the ballot, with no success. He said: “It was a life changing experience and something I had always wanted to do.
“The first half, you are a bit like a tourist, my head was up and I was taking it all in. It is such an iconic event, and you are going past famous landmarks like the Cutty Sark.
“Running across London Bridge too, that was so special. But by the second half, I was head down and focusing on completing the run.”
The father of three added: “What inspired us during the toughest parts of the London Marathon, was the fact we were doing this for Wales Air Ambulance.
“We were speaking to a few guys on the Tube, and they said it would be too much pressure to finish, if running for a Charity. But it is what spurred us on.”
Geoff agreed, reflecting on their base visit to Dafen in the months leading up to the London Marathon, he said: “We are very proud to have completed the challenge and hopefully raise enough funds to cover the cost of two lifesaving missions.
“But it took only four months of preparation for us to do this event. One of the clinicians told us it has taken 10 years for him to train to become a flying doctor. They are hugely committed, incredibly skilled and so dedicated to saving lives.
“So, when we were in the trenches at mile eighteen, that was in the back of our minds.”
Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency critical care.
Phae Jones, Wales Air Ambulance’s Director of Income Generation said: “Congratulations are extended to Geoff and James on their incredible achievement!
“It was wonderful to see them wearing our Wales Air Ambulance running shirts and we are so grateful that they chose to raise funds for our Charity, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.
“The whole Ascona Group team are incredible and have been supporting us over the past few years.
“We are so grateful for our long-standing Charity partnership, which has already helped raise over £350,000 for our lifesaving service, which is equivalent to the cost of 100 lifesaving missions.
“Ascona Group has pledged to continue until it reaches £1m. That is an extraordinary amount and will help save many lives.”
