Optometrist to run ‘Custard Corner Marathon’ challenge

An optometrist from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, will embark on a unique marathon challenge to raise money for the mental health charity, Samaritans, in memory of a close friend.

Dr Ian Beasley, head of education at the AOP and OT clinical editor, will be running laps of a 0.045 mile stretch of his local town until he reaches the marathon distance of 26.2 miles on Saturday 21 June.

Dubbed ‘Custard Corner,’ the stretch of pedestrianised street is well-known locally for having been controversially painted a bright yellow.

Beasley explained that the idea to run a fundraising marathon on this stretch came to him one morning before he was due to catch a flight: “I dashed up to Custard Corner with a tape measure, measured it, and ran back to grab my suitcase and get to the airport. While away I mulled it over and thought: I could run this for the Samaritans.”

A local cafe and a bar on the infamous corner immediately agreed to support the fundraiser, offering to each donate 10% of takings on the day of the marathon towards the cause.

Beasley will be raising money for the Samaritans in memory of a close friend who died in February 2024.

Dr Ian Beasley

Dr Ian Beasley (right) on his wedding day with his best man

“Noggins and I met at the start of secondary school. We lived opposite each other and a bunch of us would walk to school together every day. That group is still in touch – we still see each other and go on holidays. Noggins was best man at my wedding. If there was a caper to get involved in, he would be there,” he shared.

“He was also a brilliant runner. Noggins turned up to Coventry Half Marathon still hungover, without proper training, stubbed out his cigarette then went and finished it in 89 minutes. Meanwhile, here I am training and training and still a minute and a half slower than he was. He used to rip me about that a lot. So, it feels fitting to do a run in his honour,” Beasley explained.

The Samaritans’ helpline is available for anyone who is struggling to cope and needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. Volunteers respond to a call for help every 10 seconds.

Having established a fundraising page for the challenge, Beasley has heard from donors who have seen the impact of the Samaritans in their own lives.

Beasley said: “I think people really get behind the fact that we all know someone affected by mental health problems – you don’t have to look very far.”

He added: “The more I’ve thought about it, I’ve realised running a marathon around Custard Corner is symbolic of how mental health issues can feel. It’s painful and you feel trapped – I’m running in a confined space for maybe five or six hours – but the ending of this story will be that despite the pain I’ll be in for those hours, with the support of others, there is a way out.”

I think people really get behind the fact that we all know someone affected by mental health problems

During the challenge, 26 members of the Kenilworth Runners Club will accompany Beasley for a mile each. He will run the 13^th mile alongside his wife, with his daughter joining through a video call from Montreal, Canada.

The town crier will announce the mile markers, while buskers will perform throughout the day and businesses have pledged support. Waitrose has donated packs of custard creams which will be gifted to each of the runners supporting the marathon.

Once he finishes the marathon, a local bar has promised a pint of Hawkstone beer to the runner.

Word of the challenge has spread, and local radio and newspapers have also been in touch.

Beasley told OT that the support of the people around him on the day will motivate him through the gruelling laps.

He said: “I think knowing there is a new face every mile to run with will keep me going. My friends from school are all coming as a crew. They will be in the adjacent bar – that I will be running past every approximately 15 seconds – and that bar has pledged 10% of their takings that day to the cause.”

Beasley is also open about the benefit running has had for his own wellbeing.

Read more

Mental health awareness week

Dr Ian Beasley told OT about how the running community has shaped his wellbeing

“For me, running started out as a way of keeping fit physically, and has become more about my mental health. I never feel worse after a run. It’s a way of flossing the brain and the friendships I have made through running are just incredible,” he said.

Beasley added: “I also think it’s good to challenge yourself. If you can do difficult things, then when you hit the next difficult thing in life you think: ‘Well, how does this compare to running around a rectangle in 27-degree heat for five hours?’ If I can do that, I can do other difficult things.”

He concluded with a message for readers: “If you can, please donate. That money makes a real-world difference.”

And after the marathon? Beasley is already looking ahead to the next challenge – with big ideas on the horizon.

Beasley is posting updates from his training runs to Instagram. Donations can be made via JustGiving. 

The AOP Peer Support Line is a confidential, free-phone helpline for members and non-members at any stage of their career to call and discuss their problems with a trained peer who recognises the pressures of optical practice. Calls are answered 24 hours a day by an external answering service, with volunteers on duty to return calls between 8am and 8pm.