A 21-year-old padel coach and sports award winner is taking on the Chester Marathon this autumn to raise funds for the Elsie’s Story charity.
Jack Carney, from Birkdale, will take on the 26.2 mile challenge on Sunday 11th October 2026 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 and at Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club and Formby 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.
“On 11th October 2026, I’ll be taking on the Chester Marathon in memory of Elsie Dot Stancombe.
“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.
“I’ve been training for the marathon for months, fitting the miles around work, padel, cricket and everything else life throws at you.
“Some of the training has been really tough — the early mornings, the long runs, the tired legs and the days when you really don’t feel like running.
“But whenever it gets difficult, I remind myself that what I’m doing will never compare to the challenge Elsie’s family have had to face.
Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
“Elsie is with me on every single run.
“That thought keeps me going.
“I’m raising money for Elsie’s Story, who are doing some incredibly positive work to honour Elsie and create something meaningful from such unimaginable heartbreak.
“My goal is to raise as much as I possibly can, and I’d be incredibly grateful for any donation you’re able to make.
“Whatever the amount, every single donation will mean a huge amount to me and, most importantly, help support Elsie’s Story.
“Thank you for taking the time to read this, for supporting my marathon journey, and for helping me keep Elsie’s name at the heart of what I’m doing.
“11th October. Chester Marathon.
“For Elsie.”
You can donate here: Jack Carney is fundraising for Elsie’s Story
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