Southport padel coach and cricket player Jack Carney has completed the Chester Marathon, raising nearly £9,000 for the Elsie’s Story charity.
Jack, 21, finished the 26.2 mile challenge in 3 hours 44 minutes on Sunday (11th October 2026).
He said: “One unforgettable experience. A finish line that meant so much more.
“What started as a personal challenge became something so much bigger. Running in memory of Elsie Dot and raising money for Elsie’s Story made every kilometre worth it.
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“As of today, we’ve raised an incredible £7,491, with an additional £1,414 in Gift Aid, bringing the total to £8,905!
“Hopefully, with a final push, we can take that total even further and continue making a difference in Elsie’s memory.
“A massive thank you to everyone who donated, shared, supported and came out to cheer me on. The support throughout this journey has been unbelievable, and I genuinely couldn’t have done it without you all.
*”t was an experience I’ll never forget, for a cause that means so much more than any finishing time or medal.
“For Elsie.”
You can donate here: Jack Carney is fundraising for Elsie’s Story
Jack, from Birkdale, took on the Chester Marathon with the determination to “make a positive difference in Elsie’s name”.
Jack is a coach at Birkdale Padel at Victoria Park in Southport, and a talented cricket player who has played for England Under 19s, plays at Formby Cricket Club, and has played at Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club.
He won the Sefton Sportsperson Of The Year Award, sponsored by DT Hughes Group, at the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards at The Grand in Southport in April 2024.
Jack’s challenge is the latest in a series of fundraising events taking place this year by Southport and Birkdale Sports Club and Southport Rugby Club, who have teamed up during 2026 to raise funds for Elsie’s Story and Southport Soup Kitchen.
Their events have included the first ever Southport Charity Ball which was held in May and raised an impressive £13,863.57 for the two charities.
Jack Carney said:
“Some people know me from Birkdale Padel Club, or from Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club or Formby Cricket Club.
“This story has become very personal to me. I had the chance to meet Dave and Jen Stancombe last year, and they are two genuinely unbelievable human beings.
“Through knowing them, I’ve seen the impact of what happened on their family, their close friends, and also people close to me who are connected to Elsie.
“There really are no words that can make sense of what they have been through.
“So, I wanted to do something that would challenge me personally, while hopefully making a positive difference in Elsie’s name.”
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