West End' Nadim Naaman Runs London Marathon for MAD Trust

By night, West End star Nadim Naaman inhabits the dark world of Sweeney Todd's London but each day before the show he dons his trainers to fulfil his final training preparation for this year's Virgin Money London Marathon, so he will be ready for the challenge of the 26-mile course on Sunday 26 April 2015.

Nadim's marathon place is extra-special as he is The Make A Difference Trust's first ever "official" runner (charities are allocated fundraising places). Originally founded as West End Cares in 1990 and later becoming Theatrecares, The Make A Difference Trust (MAD Trust) raises funds for HIV and AIDS Projects that raise awareness and provide care, support and education in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

A Londoner born and bred, 29-year old Nadim currently lives in Southfields, and studied Drama at The University of Warwick before training professionally in Musical Theatre at The Royal Academy of Music. Currently starring as Anthony in Sweeney Todd (West End pop-up transfer of the Tooting Arts Club production), his numerous West End credits include One Man, Two Guvnors and The Phantom of The Opera.

Nadim said: "The Make A Difference Trust has spent many years persuading the bigwigs to allocate them a charity place. This year they have finally been successful! I am honoured to run this race for the Trust. The idea of being the sole representative of such a worthy cause in a sea of 40,000 runners, many of whom are in teams of hundreds for bigger charities, is daunting but I know that I will feel hugely proud. What's more, MAD Trust is the charity at the heart of my profession as a London-based actor. The hard part? Making this single place count. We need to make such a statement that next year MAD Trust is offered 5 places, and eventually, 50. MAD Trust has developed a wonderful reputation for raising funds via top-quality cabarets, concerts and shows, but this is an opportunity to go back to basics - to make the charity and the cause the star - and to take the charity to those who currently don't know it exists. With your help, we can do this, and more excellent work can be done to help the lives of many who struggle every day because of HIV and AIDS, and many other long-term illnesses."

Support Nadim's fundraising by making a donation here - every pound makes a huge difference to the work of The MAD Trust: virginmoneygiving.com/nadimnaaman

Keep up with Nadim's marathon preparation stories through his Blog: nadimmarathon.blogspot.co.uk and offer words of encouragement on Twitter @nadimnaaman

For more information about The Make A Difference Trust visit: www.madtrust.org.uk

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