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First-time marathon runner Jim Humble beat 150 hopefuls to win a place in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon for Sightsavers, with flights kindly donated by Skywards, the frequent flier programme of Emirates Airlines.

It’s just a year since Jim, 53, from Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear, started running, but he put so much training in that he finished the event in a fantastic four hours, 37 minutes!

Jim and his brother Vince also got to visit one of the projects that we support in Mumbai, to see our work being carried out and meet the people who benefit from it.

The funds are still coming in, but Jim has already raised almost a thousand pounds – congratulations and thanks go to Jim, his family and friends.

While in India, Jim and Vince also had the chance to visit a Sightsavers’ project on the outskirts of Mumbai. Here is Jim’s personal account of his trip.

“When I found out I’d won I was in the early stages of training for what was intended to be my first marathon in Edinburgh on 27 May after having taken up running in February 2011 as a lifestyle initiative around the time of my 53^rd birthday. This had followed over 30 years of relative inactivity apart from the odd bike ride. My training was developing well in company with my newly found friends at the Sunderland Strollers running club but I had to quickly up my long runs from 12 miles on a Sunday by increments of an extra two miles per week in preparation for Mumbai which was a good four months earlier than my intended first attempt at the marathon.

Getting the chance to help

I had been aware of Sightsavers for many years, but was particularly drawn to its 100km trek across the Kaisut Desert by celebrities in Northern Kenya as part of Comic Relief last year. From what started as a chance competition entry with the simple aim of winning a prize I became aware that I had an opportunity to make some small contribution to a charity whose work I admired by raising sponsorship money. As anyone who has taken part in any event for which they seek sponsorship knows the success of the fundraising depends largely on the efforts and generosity of your circle of friends, family and colleagues. I have been lucky to have had champion fundraisers in my wife Michele and my colleague Lucy Read at Stannah whose efforts have brought in £979 as I write this and money is still coming in. Particular thanks also to Rev Fr David Russell who together with parishioners of my church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, West Monkseaton raised £110 for my chosen cause.

An amazing experience

Two aspects of this great adventure stand out for me: the race itself which was just the best way to experience the sights, sounds and smells of Mumbai which sensations are all about its fabulous and ever kind inhabitants. Also the work of Sightsavers and its partners in Mumbai in all that they do for the people for whom they work.

Thanks largely to my joining a pacing group for the race led by Bruce Hargreaves the Australian marathon runner I completed my dream of finishing a marathon less than a year after taking up running as a get-fit/keep-fit pastime. The rest of the group did get ahead of me after the 32km mark and no doubt most came in ahead of their intended 4 hour, 30 minute time as they were well ahead when I dropped behind. My time was 4 hours, 37 minutes and 33 seconds and probably better than I had any reason to expect, but with magnificent support from my newly found friends in Mumbai and God’s help I was the lucky one who had the time of my life and the chance to contribute through my friends to the work being done in India for Sightsavers.

Being able to see their work at a community eye clinic and hospital was a humbling and moving experience. The medical staff and their colleagues go about their work with the utmost care and respect for the people for whom they work. I'm grateful to Sightsavers for allowing me to witness their wonderful work in Mumbai.