Some things are bigger than business, and this is one of them.
This year, Tom Bailey completed the Brighton Marathon. 26.2 miles along the seafront, thousands of runners, a huge physical challenge. But for Tom, this was never just about running a marathon. It was about doing something that really matters.
Earlier this year, Tom’s mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Since then, he’s seen first-hand how cruel the disease can be. It starts small, repeating things, forgetting little details, but it doesn’t stay small for long. One moment in particular has stuck with him — the first time she asked who he was. That’s something no one is ever ready for.
That’s why he decided to do something about it.
Alzheimer’s is now the biggest cause of death in the UK, and it’s only becoming more common. Most of us will be affected by it in some way, whether that’s directly or through someone we love. For Tom, it’s been part of his family history for years, but now it’s personal in a way it never has been before.
So he signed up to run the Brighton Marathon and raise money for Alzheimer’s research. Not because he’s a seasoned runner — far from it. Before this, it was the odd Park Run here and there. Nothing close to 26.2 miles. This was a proper challenge.
It meant months of training, pushing through when it would have been easier not to, and keeping going even when the motivation dipped. But when you’ve got a reason like this, you find a way.
Every step he took on that course was for his mum, and for every family going through the same thing.
We talk a lot about values at Silverstone Leasing — commitment, resilience, doing things properly. This is exactly what that looks like in real life.
Tom, this is something to be incredibly proud of. Not just finishing the marathon, but having the courage to take it on in the first place, and for a reason that means so much.
If you’d like to support Tom and help fund Alzheimer’s research, you can still donate here:
https://2026brightonmarathonweekend.enthuse.com/pf/tom-bailey
