Last year Wooden Spoon charity gave The Thanet Wanderers SEND rugby programme in Broadstairs funding to attend Tag Fest – A rugby tournament for children and young people with mild or severe learning difficulties – now two dads will run the London Marathon to give back to the charity.

Now, Andy Bull and David Morgan, whose children have additional needs and attended Tag Fest are running the London marathon, not only as a way to thank Wooden Spoon for their invaluable support but also to raise funds to ensure future children have the opportunity to enjoy sport in an inclusive environment. 

Local rugby coach and advocate for inclusive sport, Andy Bull, alongside David Morgan who is also involved in Thanet Wanders, are gearing up to run the London Marathon in support of Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby.

Andy and David are taking on this challenge as a way to give back to Wooden Spoon who played a crucial role in supporting the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) rugby programme at Thanet Wanderers Rugby Club in Broadstairs.

A lifelong professional in advertising and the creative industries, Andy is married with five children. His involvement in rugby began when his sons took up the sport, leading him to coach his youngest son, Andrew, from the Under-6s through to the Under-15s.

His other son, Noah, now plays in the Colts team, while his eldest son, Josh, who has Down Syndrome, inspired Andy to establish the only SEND rugby programme in the Southeast of England – Thanet Wanderers.

With plans to expand the programme to other clubs and special needs schools, Andy’s passion for making rugby accessible to all is at the heart of his marathon journey. 

David Morgan, a nurse at a local hospital and manager of the fracture clinic, is also joining the marathon effort. A lifelong footballer, David recalls his childhood experiences of touring with teams and the lifelong friendships he made.

Now, as a father to a daughter with additional needs who is part of the Thanet Wanderers, he is deeply invested in ensuring children with SEND have the same opportunities to experience the joy of team sports. 

The Thanet Wanderers team attended Tag Fest last year, a Wooden Spoon event for players with mild & severe learning difficulties to come together and experience a rugby tour.  

David and Andy have decided to run the marathon not only as a way to thank Wooden Spoon for their invaluable support but also to raise funds to ensure future children have the opportunity to enjoy sport in an inclusive environment. 

Speaking ahead of the London Marathon, David said: “My daughter started to attend after-school rugby sessions organised by Coach Andy and Coach Mario as part of Thanet Wanderers’ SEND provision, and she absolutely loved it,”

He added: “Last year, thanks to Wooden Spoon’s help, the coaches were able to take two teams to the Tag Fest tournament in Coventry. This was a dream come true for the children—most of whom had never had the chance to be part of a team and community before. Seeing them experience the same joy and camaraderie that I did as a child was truly heartwarming.” 

Meanwhile, Andy added: “We attended Tag Fest last year, and it was inspirational, It was the first time our squad had ever played a competitive match, and the whole weekend was one of the most enjoyable of my life.”

“The funding we received from Wooden Spoon made the difference between us going and not, and I knew I had to do something to give back. A cake sale would have been easier, but if you’re going to give back, you might as well do it in style!”