Portsmouth Marathon – how are we involved?

TJ is the headline sponsor for the Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon 2022, which is taking place on Sunday 18 December. This sponsorship involves many elements and in addition to that, we also have eight staff members actually running the event too!

This is the fifth year that we have sponsored the event, which this year is raising money for Rowans Hospice. There are many things that we, as headline sponsor, do in the lead-up to the event as well as on the day:

• We provide a complete waste management service on the day, free of charge. This includes the provision of a number of eurobins for collecting rubbish at various points around the route and at the start and end point.
  
• All waste produced at the event will be picked up by volunteers along the route and returned to Castle Field where we will have a number of eurobins. This ensures that any waste generated throughout the event is captured, minimising littering and pollution. The bins will be delivered to the site the day before the event to ensure that they are located in the optimal positions ahead of time. 
  
• We will have one of our vans positioned along the route to distribute much-needed drinks and refreshments to runners as they pass. We’ll also provide directions for the runners on which route to take.
  
• A TJ van and driver will also be present to empty the bins, with the waste being transported back to TJ’s Materials Recovery Facility in Tipner for sorting and recycling. As much as possible will be recycled or reused in line with our policy to divert all that we can from landfill.
  
• We have provided banners and flags at Southsea Castle to help signpost everything. 
  
• We have also made a monetary donation to the event.

The event consists of the full marathon, a festive half marathon and Santa-themed 5k and 10k races to raise money for this year’s charity, the Rowans Hospice. Eight TJ employees are running this year to support the event:

• Managing Director John Gosling and Business Development Manager Paul Smith will be running the full marathon.
  
• General Manager Luke Haskell, Head of Compliance Jack Macfarlane, Sales & Operations Assistant Maisy Bowles and South West Depot & Out of Hours Manager Kevin Longland are doing the half marathon.
  
• Transport & Third Party Haulage Manager Mark Tyler is running the Santa-themed 10k.
  
• Accounts Administrator Claire Norman will be completing the Santa-themed 5k.
  
• 10 of our suppliers/customers will be taking part too!

Rowans Hospice provides palliative and end of life care to the highest quality for those living with a life-limiting illness in south east Hampshire. As well as easing patient’s physical symptoms, Rowan’s highly trained carers also provide psychological, spiritual and social support to both patients and their loved ones.

Their dedicated hospice care is available round the clock either in house or at home, as well as offering services for day visitors in our Living Well Centre. These services are all provided free of charge and as a charity, 90% of their income is generated by legacies, donations, fundraising and our retail shops. Fundraising events such as the Portsmouth Marathon are essential in enabling Rowan’s to make a difference to so many lives.

This event, which has been running since 2009, is organised by Portsmouth Marathons Ltd and supported by Believe and Achieve Events Ltd, who specialise in organising running, cycling and kayaking events in the Portsmouth area.

To any non-runners, why not come down to Portsmouth on the day to support those taking part? Food stalls and refreshment stands will be open on Castle Field to keep you going and there’s sure to be a fun, festive atmosphere!

A few words from our TJ runners…

“I’ve run this marathon for the past six years and it’s well supported by locals as well as runners from far and wide. Due to the time of year, it’s a guess as to what weather you’ll encounter on the day! It’s a festive event and many of the runners, myself included, run with friends to make it fun, friendly and social.

“The final two miles are along Southsea seafront from Eastney to Southsea Castle, where we share the prom with the general public out for a leisurely Sunday walk with the family or the dog, which usually hails supportive cheers and cries of “you mad fools!” This year the main charity is Rowans Hospice; the good work they do and the fact that 1 in 2 of us will be affected in some way by cancer makes this charity extremely deserving of the support.” Managing Director John Gosling

“I look forward to taking part in the Portsmouth Half Marathon every year. I always run with my uncle, Michael Rae, and we train together all year round. Hopefully the weather and conditions will be kind to us this year and we can enjoy the run and hit a new PB!” Jack Macfarlane, Head of Compliance

Find out more about TJ Waste’s services and other community events we get involved with…