50 Half Marathons in 50 Weeks – Alex’s Final Push to Change Young Lives
Our fantastic Treasurer, Mentor and Committee Member Alex Lyons is on track to complete his amazing fundraising challenge on the 21st September.
For most people, turning 50 is marked by a quiet celebration with family and friends. But for Newton Abbot runner, mentor, and charity volunteer Alex Lyons, it has been the start of something far bigger. This year, Alex has set himself an extraordinary personal challenge: to run 50 half marathons in 50 weeks—one for every year of his life so far—culminating in his final race at the Torbay Half Marathon on 21st September.
Now, with 45 half marathons completed, Alex is on the home stretch. And while the miles have taken their toll—through relentless rain, injury niggles, and whilst fitting training and runs alongside work and family—his determination remains unshaken. Because for Alex, this isn’t just about endurance or personal achievement. It’s about changing the lives of young people who have faced some of life’s hardest challenges.
Running for More Than Himself
Alex is raising £10,000 for Life Chance Trust, a local charity that provides vital mentoring and life skills workshops for vulnerable young people aged 16–25 who have experienced childhood trauma. As both Treasurer of the charity and a volunteer mentor, Alex has a deeply personal understanding of the struggles these young people face.
“Every week I run, I think of the young people we work with. Some of them have been through experiences that no child should ever have to face—abuse, neglect, trauma. They start their adult lives already carrying an enormous burden. But I’ve also seen the incredible transformation that can happen when they get the right support. With someone to believe in them, listen to them, and guide them, they begin to find hope again. That’s why I keep running—even on the days when I feel like I can’t.”
The Human Impact
Life Chance Trust works with young people who often feel invisible to the world around them. Many have grown up believing that their future is already written—that they won’t amount to anything, that they don’t belong. Through one-to-one mentoring, coaching, and workshops, the charity helps them to rebuild confidence, develop skills, and step into independent, fulfilling lives.
Alex recalls: “One young person I’ve worked with told me that for the first time in their life, they felt heard. Just having someone there who believes in them was the spark they needed. That’s the power of what we do. And that’s why this fundraising matters so much—it’s not about numbers or targets, it’s about real people, real stories, and real futures.”
The Final Push
Alex’s challenge, dubbed “50@50”, has made him a familiar sight around Newton Abbot, clad in his bright orange Life Chance Trust t-shirt. His weekly runs have inspired conversations, encouragement from passers-by, and support from local businesses and fellow runners. But with just five half marathons to go, Alex is urging the community to help him make this final push count.
His fundraising target of £10,000 will enable the charity to support 50 vulnerable young people over the next year—giving them the tools to overcome their past and build brighter futures.
“This challenge has been tougher than I ever imagined, but every mile reminds me of why I’m doing it. If we can give just one young person the belief that their lif fe can be different, then every step has been worth it. I may be the one running, but this is about all of us coming together to give young people the future they deserve.”
How You Can Support Alex
Follow his journey: Alex’s Facebook Page
Donate: JustGiving – Alex Lyons
Run the Torbay Half Marathon in a Life Chance Trust T-shirt – if you’ve already signed up for this local event, and would like to support Alex, then please get in touch.