Brighton Marathon in Memory of Damian Piper

On the 2nd of April, the Craig House Class of 2016 will be running the Brighton Marathon to raise money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of Damian Piper.

Damian was a larger-than-life character with a contagious, positive spirit and a passion for people. He wasn’t just a loving father to our friend Fergus and his three siblings; he really was a friend to us all. We have countless stories with Damian, whether he was picking us up from a house party in the early hours of the morning, supporting our sporting endeavours or just sharing a pint in the pub. He always welcomed us into his home, greeted us with a cup of tea and a joke, and never minded when he found half of us had fallen asleep in his living room after a night out. It is odd writing this as you only truly realise the impact someone has had on you when they are gone.

Damian sadly passed away on the 19th of November after suffering from cardiac arrest.

Fergus, Martha, Beth, Rufus and Sarah have shown immense strength over the past few months. You will not find a family who love and support each other as much as they do, even through the most challenging times. It seems so unfair that people as wonderful as the Pipers should have to go through something like this.

As a group of friends, we wanted to do something that we will never forget - all in support of the Pipers. For most of us, school was the last time playing competitive sport as only a few carried on at university, and a marathon seems like an impossible challenge at this stage. I think we can truly say it will be unforgettable for us all (not least our knees).

The British Heart Foundation wants to build a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases. A world where good people like Damian can continue to live happily and share time with their family and friends.

If you share this vision, please consider supporting us and the BHF in any way you can, big or small. Or if not, maybe sling us a few quid in support of 8 twenty-somethings desperately trying to cling to the idea that they can still run like they could when they were 16.

Finally, we would all love to see some familiar faces dotted around the course, so if you are free on the 2nd April and would like to support us, it would mean the world to see you both during- and post-race.

“Athletes”: Henry, Giles, Adam, Toby, Robbie, Joe, Ben and Sammi