Derek Kelly, a local Southampton man and a member of the Southampton West Rotary Club raised over £1,000 this year through participating in the London Marathon. Derek is a keen sailor (racing dinghies), having raced them most of his life.

Derek said, ‘I, like Ellen, wanted a challenge and decided a couple of years ago to run the London Marathon. This year I actually obtained a place for the first time. I had never previously run and so it was a daunting prospect. However, to do it properly I felt it was necessary to join a running club and this enabled me to focus in and train. I completed the Marathon in 4 hrs 16 mins 12 secs and was 180th in my age group. As I had my own place I thought I would take the opportunity to raise money for local charities, of which the Ellen MacArthur Trust was one.’

Derek presented his cheque for £1,130 to Ellen MacArthur, Shirley Robertson and the young people from the Ellen MacArthur Trust that participated in 2005’s Round the Island Race.