Broadway Plaza bar manager loses 6.5 stone to run London Marathon for Marie Curie

Connor Kingsley, assistant general manager at Mr Mulligans in Broadway Plaza in Birminghman’s Westside entertainment district, is taking the London Marathon 26-mile challenge on October 2, 2022.

He is running in memory of his nan, foster mum and close friend who were all helped or linked to the Marie Curie cancer charity - after losing an impressive six-and-a-half stone.

The 33-year-old, who lives in Winson Green, saw his weight shoot up to 25 stone during lockdown as the hospitality industry was shutdown to contain Covid cases.

Connor said: “I’ve been concentrating on making major changes in my life after being locked up for the best part of two years during Covid-19. I found myself to be the largest I had ever been at a whopping 25 stone, which contributed to me becoming diabetic and gave me a major wake-up call. Since getting back into regular exercise I have managed to lose six-and-a-half stone in my first year.”

Why is Connor running the London Marathon?

Connor is running the London Marathon for three special people in his life.

Andrew Sturges, a friend of Connor’s, who worked for Marie Curie as a chef - he passed away in 2020. Both Connor’s nan and foster mum have also lost their lives to cancer and were helped by the charity in the final stages of their battles.

Connor said: “Andrew gave his heart and soul to his job and the charity he loved. My foster mum fostered hundreds of children and gave her life and soul to safeguard everyone she met

“The staff at Marie Curie and the hospice were amazing to her and I was determined to do this run in honour of her and my nan.”

As well as the London Marathon Connor is hosting a crazy golf tournament, cake sale and raffle at Mr Mulligan’s on September 7, 2022.

Connor is well known in the Westside community as he previously worked at the Walkabout Bar and Bannatyne gym - he is seeking raffle prizes for the event in September.

Training for a marathon is no easy task, it takes endurance and hard work. Connor has been part of the Birmingham Swifts running club where he has been training.

“I used to be a regular runner a few years back and I would apply for the London Marathon every year and not get in,” he said. “I carried on applying when I stopped running and on my eighth attempt I got in.

“I’m now back in training and have already taken part in the Birmingham 10K in May. My next race is on Saturday, July 2 in the Black Country half marathon.”

To donate to Connor’s fund click here, for more information on the bake sale click here. 

If any Westside organisations want to donate raffle prizes email [email protected]

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.