Marathon men
Ian, Alexander and Oliver ran the Exeter Marathon in support of Green Hill Arts
Medieval historian and Dartmoor resident Ian Mortimer recently ran a marathon with his two sons — raising more than £5,000 for Green Hill Arts based at Moretonhampstead.
Ian, a friend and patron of Green Hill Arts, ran the Exeter Marathon in November as he wanted to help the organisation after the turbulent two years experienced under the pandemic.
‘Small arts and heritage organisations have been under tremendous pressure for the last two years,’ said Ian. ‘We have sadly seen many go under, with loss of amenity and cultural joy to many communities and a sense of being creatively “stranded” among artists and writers. Online meetings do not make up for talks and exhibitions – indeed, they serve to keep people apart in their homes, rather than bringing them together, which is one of the great things about art, music and heritage events. Therefore I was keen to do what I could to support Green Hill Arts.’
If you would like to donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ianmortimer
Ian added: ‘Not just two Mortimers but three of us ran the whole way. I ran it in 3:38:48, which is a new personal best. Alexander was about an hour behind me, which was a splendid result, and my younger son Oliver was about half an hour behind him. We are all very pleased with how things went, and I am especially proud of my sons.
‘It hardly needs to be said that it wasn’t easy but all three of us found it immensely satisfying.’