Flight Lieutenant Joshrun Mann, an engineer on 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron, is lining up for the London Marathon — and it will be his first ever.
Flt Lt Mann, who has served in the Royal Air Force for over eight and a half years, secured a charity place through SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, after years of entering the ballot without success. “To be selected by SSAFA is absolutely amazing,” he said, “and a privilege to be running for them to raise money for the absolutely amazing work that the charity conducts.”
The decision to run for SSAFA was a personal one. Having seen the charity support colleagues and their families across the station, and having used their services himself, Flt Lt Mann wanted to give something back. “I know friends and colleagues that have had help from SSAFA, and friends have benefited greatly from them,” he said. “I wanted to do something for SSAFA — essentially to say thank you, but also to continue supporting our friends and colleagues in the Royal Air Force through the funds raised.”
Despite now tackling 26.2 miles, Flt Lt Mann is by no means a seasoned runner. Before securing his marathon place around nine months ago, he had never run further than a 10K, having spent his younger years focused on competitive swimming. His first half marathon run — the Lincolnshire Half Marathon — came only last year.
With a target finish time of four hours thirty minutes, he is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. “42.2 kilometres is a long way,” he said. “It’s going to be an endurance challenge in itself.”
Group Captain Andy Hampshire, Station Commander at RAF Coningsby, said: “Joshrun’s determination to take on his first marathon — having barely run beyond a 10K until recently — is a fantastic example of the personal commitment our people bring to everything they do, on and off their squadrons. SSAFA provides invaluable support to service personnel and their families right across the station, and I’m incredibly proud to see one of our own stepping up to give something back. I wish Joshrun every success on the day.”
Support Joshrun and SSAFA by visiting his Enthuse page at: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/joshrun-mann
