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Marathon challenge for Stan
April 15, 2006 9:29 AM
Cllr Pajak running for Swindon charity Dial-a-Ride [photo by Swindon Advertiser]
WHEN Swindon councillor Stan Pajak pulls on his trainers for the London Marathon he will also be bringing in the pounds for Dial A Ride.
The 49-year-old Liberal Democrat has decided to raise money for the community bus service, which has had its funding from Swindon Council reduced.
And he has already got cross-party pledges from three councillors who are donating their increase in annual allowance to the charity in protest at the cuts.
This has kicked off his sponsorship nicely to the tune of £960, including gift aid tax.
Coun Pajak, of Drove Road, who is a regular runner, has already got four marathons under his belt, although this is the first time he has secured a place in the London Marathon.
"I've tried to get in many years and this year I finally got through," he said.
"With Dial A Ride and their problems with funding they seemed like a natural choice."
His connection with the charity which is celebrating its 20th anniversary goes back to the beginning when he was an original board member.
Coun Pajak, who represents the Eastcott ward, has managed the Swindon Half Marathon a couple of times.
He is raring to go for the race on Sunday, April 23 but is hoping a recent injury doesn't raise its head.
Training has not been going to plan as he has been hampered by a foot injury.
"I was having problems walking let alone running," he said.
But he said it was the taking part that was important and he was not worried about setting a good time.
He will be sporting his Dial A Ride T-shirt on the day as he works his way around the 26.2-mile course.
The Tory-run council originally came up with proposals to cut Dial A Ride's funding by £100,000.
Following protests by people who depend on the service to get out and about, the authority backed down and came up with a revised figure of £20,000.
Some politicians were still unhappy that the cuts, even though reduced, were still going ahead.
The decision came just as Tory councillors agreed to give themselves a hike in the allowances they are paid.
Uncomfortable with this situation, three Labour councillors Barrie Thompson, Steve Allsopp and Fay Howard decided to give their rises to the charity.
Coun Pajak is hoping for more sponsorship to add to their donations.
You can contact him on 01793 642936 or via email on stan@swindonlibdems.org
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