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DAVID ROWSELL

Winter Run 2026

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£2,098 + £421.42 GiftAid

My Goal

£2,200

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My Activity Tracking

263
kms

Cancer is relentess. But so are we. 

Training Blog 11 - Going, Going, nearly gone...

Morning all

Sunday is race today - today is just another running day - number 4428 on my current streak  for those who count !

Sometimes people ask what drives you in a streak like this - multiple things really. Mostly its sheer bloody mindedness, sometimes its collecting stuff from a shop on you way round, or getting something to the grandkids' house. This week it has been delivering a thousand fliers about a digital inclusion programme we are running at our food bank www.thecollectivesharehouse.co.uk ...damn modern letterboxes have played havoc with my fingernails!!

Sometimes it's simply this

A view of The Shambles - seen by millions the world over, but still a thrill especially early doors, minus the Harry Potter fans...

Signing off now - train to London this morning, football this afternoon (who knew) and running with daughter Kate and son Matt (and 26000 others!) tomorrow...

Life is good... so let's continue to fight for it through Cancer Research.

David, Kate and Matt x


Please support Team DMK
We're running (sometimes in the obvious places) for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.
If you can sponsor us, please do.
Go bold. Go generous. Go: this is for my family & friends too...
https://www.winterrun.co.uk/fundraisers/DAVIDROWSELL70570/winter-run-2026
Thank you, as ever, for your friendship, love and support.
David , Kate and Matt x

Training Blog 10 - Being a Pest in Buda...

A change of scenery.

I am currently in one of my favourite cities anywhere in the world - Budapest. Lucky enough to be a Trustee at an international school here, so visit 2 0r 3 times a year.

Budapest British International School is a fantastic and successful project in a wonderful, friendly city. Visiting here is a real privilege.

More than that I get to run along the Danube (yesterday) and today on beautiful Castle Hill on the Buda side of the city. In the picture dawn is just breaking but there are always folk there as you can see who want to capture the splendid views.

We are a week away from Winter Run day in London next week - I know some of you will be waiting to see if I complete the 6.2 miles. I will. 🙂

However it will be brilliant if team DMK can set out on Sunday 15th with £3000 or more safely in the sponsorship bank - if you keep forgetting, I get it, but don't forget what cash to Cancer Research has already done for you and may well do in the future...

I know I am a Pest, and proud of it...

David x

Training Blog 9 - It's Not Terry's ... It's Mine



Still just shy of the £3000 - 10 days to race day....




It's often amazing the things you discover while running. This morning my 3.5 mile cold run, took me here - the famous former Terry's chocolate factory in York - now home to many residences.

Terry's relocated here from the riverside 100 years ago this year (and closed for good sadly in 2005). Crazily, I had lived in York (off and on) for over 25 years before I realised that the clock tower was not perched on the top of the factory but was, infact,  a completely separate entity ! Things you ponder while running....

Fun facts - there was originally a Terry's chocolate apple (1932) before the orange grew in popularity. There were also chocolate lemons and strawberries associated with the same brand. 

Orange was always the favourite though and at one time it was claimed that it appeared in 90% of all Christmas stockings in the UK !!

Sadly production switched to Poland in 2005 and then to Strasbourg in 2018.

You are now, officially, an expert on the chocolate orange... next task: sponsor us if you have not already got round to it!

Tap it and unwrap it...

David x



Please support Team DMK
We're running (often on chocolate fuel) for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.
If you can sponsor us, please do.
Go bold. Go generous. Go: this is for my family & friends too...
https://www.winterrun.co.uk/fundraisers/DAVIDROWSELL70570/winter-run-2026
Thank you, as ever, for your friendship, love and support.
David , Kate and Matt x

Training Blog 8 - Once A Flood...

We go again for Cancer Research... February 14th The London Winter Run - and would love your support
https://www.winterrun.co.uk/fundraisers/DAVIDROWSELL70570/winter-run-2026
This week Team DMK has hit £2700 in its quest to support further life-saving research into a disease which has touched us all, often too many times.

Our heartfelt thanks
You can still help us hit £3000 this week, go on....please


Some wet and wild 4 mile training runs this week - as shown in this picture from Skeldergate Bridge in York, where the River Ouse has burst its banks for, I think, the 3rd time already this year... and we are not out of January yet.

When I was young - a long time ago now - I remember that when something happened only rarely ( a Crewe Alex away win, a politician telling the truth, England winning The Ashes), my mum would say that these things 'happened once a flood'... 

This feels like a saying that is now redundant or has completely changed its meaning ...

It was once a thrill to live at 12 Riverside - now 43 Hilltop Avenue seems more appealing... unless you believe that climate change is not a thing, but that's a whole different blog...

Wade in The Water ! https://open.spotify.com/track/0l2CjLs5IuME1bZeRfNSrm?si=44e6b349d95b4af1

David x

Please support Team DMK
We're running (in flippers & life jackets) for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.
If you can sponsor us, please do.
Go bold. Go generous. Go: this is for my family & friends too...
https://www.winterrun.co.uk/fundraisers/DAVIDROWSELL70570/winter-run-2026
Thank you, as ever, for your friendship, love and support.
David , Kate and Matt x

Training Blog 7 - Another day, another Minster...

Morning all

Taking a break from York - and visiting our younger daughter's family in beautiful Beverley.

I love running around this East Yorkshire town and today a longer 6 mile run takes me down to one of Yorkshire's other Minsters, just visible in the gloom above!

By a strange quirk of family history (we all have them!), our daughter ended up living in a town where my Great Grandfather, Canon John Rowsell, was a curate of the Minster. He lived here between 1879 and 1882 and two of my aunts who I remember meeting when I was very young, were born here. He then moved to Beccles for the remainder of his working life. If you are ever in St Michael's Church there you can see an entire window dedicated to his memory.

But here's another crazy family history fact for a Sunday morning:

Our 4 grandchildren have known a number of their great grandparents, and two of them are still living well into their 90s. 

On the other extreme, Canon John Rowsell, my Great Grandfather, died in 1910 - nearly 50 years before I was born!!

You have to love history.

Live well

David x

Please support Team DMK
We're running (for our lives!) for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.
If you can sponsor us, please do.
Go bold. Go generous. Go: this is for my family & friends too...
Thank you, as ever, for your friendship, love and support.
David , Kate and Matt x

Training Blog 6 - A pub for every day


Morning all

When we first moved to York - 34 years ago nearly, I was reminded that York had a pub for every day of the year.

Naturally, I set out to discover if this was true... unsurprisingly, it turned out to be an urban myth.  I took just over a year to complete my quest and 1 found there were 212, if memory serves (drinking can cause memory loss, or even worse, memory loss...)

I would imagine that there are far fewer now with pub closures at, I believe, one a day nationwide.

I no longer drink alcohol - except the 0.0 variety - but I still enjoy the atmosphere of a good traditional pub. 

Here is The Lighthorseman - a rare survivor a little way off the beaten track. Grade II listed for its Victorian architecture & its steadfast refusal to do away with the interior layout & fittings which remain largely unchanged over its 150 year history, as does its name, with a nod to the Fulford barracks just up the street.

These places need to be treasured...

Cheers, David

We go again for Cancer Research... February 14th The London Winter Run - and would love your support
This week Team DMK has hit £2500 in its quest to support further life-saving research into a disease which has touched us all, often many times.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Can you help us hit £3000 this week, go on....

Training Blog 5 - Ogling in Ogleforth...

I am no photographer, just a guy with a phone in his pocket while on a 4 miler in the rain this morning... but this one came out pretty well.

A view of York Minster from Ogleforth - one of the many little back alleys - or snickleways - which criss-cross our city.

Love how this one takes its name from, apparently,  'a ford named after an owl' - of course it is!

Have a great weekend and don't forget

..the real wisdom is in supporting Team DMK
We're running (in the dark & rain & in the snickleways) for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.
If you can sponsor us, please do.
Go bold. Go generous. Go: this is for my family & friends too...
Thank you, as ever, for your friendship, love and support.
David , Kate and Matt x

Training Blog 4 - The Northern Powerhouse...

Morning all

Frosty again in the North today - so, time to head into the city centre where it is slightly warmer & less slippy or maybe not....

Given this week's announcement about more money for rail in the North (again!) - I ended up running past York Station.


Believe it or not this is part of the original York Station from 1844 - the only part that was, at that point, outside the city wall (this building is now more visible after the demolition of the bridge outside the station).

Here's the amazing thing - in 1877 a new station, still in  use, was opened fully outside the city wall ... in 1877 this was the biggest railway station in the world - fact !

Today York Station ranks as only 48th in the UK and only the 3rd biggest in Yorkshire...

No wonder those of us in the North are sceptical about the Northern Powerhouse...

Meanwhile...

...The Real Northern Powerhouse is Team DMK  
We're running (in the snow and on time!) for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.
If you can sponsor us, please do.
Go bold. Go generous. Go: this is for my family & friends too...
Thank you, as ever, for your friendship, love and support.
David , Kate and Matt x

Training Blog 3 - Snow in the Vale of York

Thank you so much from us to everyone who took us close to £1300 yesterday - it means everything to each of us.

I genuinely wont bore you everyday until 15th Feb... but today's York curiosity is time limited ... SNOW settling in the Vale !


So, it's on with the grippers and out for 6km in a beautiful city made even better with a rare sprinkling of the white stuff. 

Photo is of Scarcroft Green - -just a few steps from where we live and featuring the foreboding looking Scarcroft School - a Grade II listed Victorian masterpiece designed, like many, by Walter Brierley. Two of our grandkids - Sofia and Freya - both spent many happy years here. 

Shows how education has changed - this was designed as a 1200 capacity all through school, now deemed full when c.420 primary children are on roll!

Looks great in this pic.

Dont forget...

We’re running for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.

If you can sponsor us, please do. 

Go bold. Go generous. Go: this is for my family & friends too...


Thank you, as ever, for your friendship, love and support.

Enjoy

David, Kate and Mat xx

Training among the nooks & crannies of York - No 2 Dick Turpin

Morning all

48 hours in and our DMK (Dad, Matt and Kate) has nearly £1200 in the bag to help find the cure for a disease by which we have all been touched. Magnificent from you guys! Thank you.

As promised (threatened) I am bombarding you occasionally with tales from my training - bringing you interesting (apparently) tales from around York.

A cold 6 mile circuit from our flat this morning takes in the tale of Dick Turpin...

Dick was convicted of stealing two horses, and hanged on a Three-legged Mare (hence the local pub) at Tyburn (right hand picture) on the edge of York racecourse. The middle picture is his alleged but disputed grave near St George's Church in the centre of York.

Poor old Dick - if only he had been the Duke of York... 🙂

Training among the nooks & crannies of York - No1 Titter Ye Not...

24 hours in and our team total is just shy of £1000 - what an amazing group of friends and family you are !

Thank you so much to everyone who has responded so quickly and with such generosity - we love you all !!

Two years ago when we did this, Di and I were travelling around the Scottish coast and I was able to bore you with my running stories while softening the blow with some photos of wonderful Scottish scenery.

Not happening this time, I'm afraid as much of my training will be here in York.

So instead, I will continue to bore you with training stories - but this time introduce you to some of the lesser-known nooks & crannies of our beautiful city. So here we go...


      

Comedian Frankie Howerd (oooh er missus, titter ye not... oh please yourselves) spent his earliest years here in Hartoft Street - a few steps (or front crawl strokes during most of the year) from the River Ouse... as pictured on a brisk & slippery 4 miler -in -3 Celsius this morning...
This February, the three of us - Dad (David), Kate and Matt - are taking on the Cancer Research UK 10K in London. 

Between us, we’ve got varying levels of fitness, enthusiasm, and ability to resist chocolate… but we are united on one thing: this cause matters.

Cancer has hit our family and friends hard. Two of Dad’s lifelong mates (Blincs and Neil) have been taken far too soon. Our grandad - Sherb - spent 40 years volunteering for Cancer Research. And this year, three of our close family faced cancer head on — and thanks to brilliant treatment and research, came out the other side. 
That’s why we’re running together. That’s why this year feels bigger.
We’re running for the friends we’ve lost, the family we’ve fought for, and the breakthroughs that save lives - including ours.
If you can sponsor us, please do. Go bold. Go generous. Go "Let's beat cancer together"...

My Achievements

Self Love Achieved
5k Achieved
10k Achieved
20k Achieved
50k Achieved
100k Achieved
Ice cold Achieved
Deep freeze 7k Achieved
Ice bath Achieved

Thank you to my supporters

£188

Kevin Mccarten

Well done Dave. Great cause!

£100

Ewan Mccallum

Go get 'um!

£100

Edmund Wickins

£83.74

Alan And Carol

Go for it Dave, We’ve had good cancer related news today. So giving you this to celebrate.

£56.47

Ian Mcintosh

Well done guys. Good luck

£56.47

Julian Seaward

£56.47

Jane Simms

Great cause David. Touches all of us. Go well! X

£56.47

Pauline Lewin

Enjoy the experience with your family for a great cause.

£56.47

Dj

My ongoing congratulations and admiration for your commitment to good causes (and personal fitness).

£56.47

Anonymous

Go Rowse

£56.47

Oly Mcintosh

Let's go Rowsell Crew

£56.47

Chris Coady

£56.47

Jules Morrison

Thank you ❤️

£55.42

Simon Lowe

Good luck!!

£53.32

Andy Meek

£53.32

Jane Rowsell

We hope you achieve your target. Love from Granny Jane

£53.32

Carrie Rowsell

Keep on running

£53.32

Steve Lynas

Good luck to you all

£53.32

Vicky, Stephen, James And Lucy

Go Go Go! Good luck!

£53.32

Lee Blincow

Well done Dave and family - great effort xx

£53.32

Helen Martin

Brilliant David - go Team Rowsell!!! Such an important cause, thank you!

£53.32

Kevin Havelock

£53

Iain & Naseem Peel

Good luck Mr R’

£52.12

Janet Chapman

Run well on 15th!

£50

Jenny Mooney

Thank you all

£32.23

Alan Mackie

Great effort for a great cause. As someone who has come out the other side of cancer, I fully appreciate what you are all aiming to achieve. Good luck and very best wishes.

£32.23

Simon And Alima Mills

Well done Team Rowsell ! Wishing you every success for 2026.

£27.05

Anne Rowsell

Well done to all three of you- raising money for such a good cause. X

£27.05

Pat And Jane Kivlin

£25

Martin Webster

Almost there David, what a tremendous effort.

£25

Chris Randell

Good luck-not that you need it :)

£21.84

Dick Hunter

good luck David!

£21.84

Josef Vávra

Hi Dave, keep strong :)

£21.84

M & D Gardner

£21.84

Anonymous

£21.84

Matt Needham

Go for it lad !!!

£16.56

Jane Jupe

Good luck!!

£16.56

Sarah Carr

Good luck David

£16.56

Ildiko Tittel

Fantastic and very Nobel achievement Thank you DMK!

£15

Kate Kay

Great effort Dave & Team for a fantastic charity xx

£11.33

Sue E.

A great cause.........and love the travel information too! x

£11.33

Anonymous

£11.33

Stephanie Graham

Well done David, Kate & Matt

£11.33

Heather Buckingham

All the very best with the run and thanks for your help with my project!

£11.33

Chris Hughes

£11.33

Josef Vávra

Good luck!

£11.33

Amy Stewart

All the best! Amy :)

£11.33

Bridget Learmouth

Keep running and sharing your tales!

£11.33

Linda Terry

Great cause! I doubt many of us haven’t been affected by cancer in some way.

£10

Alan Warboys

All the best Rowse 💪🏃❄️🥶

£10

Martin Harrison

£10

Alison & Derek

Good luck

£6.11

Beth Brailey

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