“Will was always the first to volunteer to help, to raise money for causes”
Simon Maxfield shares why he is running for SUDEP Action.
Update: Simon will now be running in the 2027 London Marathon due to injury.
“Challenging yourself for SUDEP Action is incredibly meaningful.”
Headteacher Simon Maxfield is one of our five supporters in the London Marathon this year, running in memory of William Payne, an alumni pupil who passed away to SUDEP at 19 years old. Simon said: “Will studied a triple award in BTEC Sport – His ambition was to be a PE teacher as he believed in the good that sport can do in life. Will worked very hard and very closely with staff, coping with his epilepsy and smashed his studies. Will was always the first to volunteer to help, to raise money for causes. He was unassuming and accepted people for who they are.”
Simon had not heard of SUDEP prior to Will’s death, he said: “I was shocked when Will died and despite knowing a little about epilepsy and Will’s family knowing a lot, we did not really have any understanding of this condition, its disproportionate impact on younger people.”
Although a seasoned runner, Simon said: “I am 50 this year and although I have run the London Marathon 3 times before, the last one was in 2007, so I am a lot older and it all hurts a little more this time.”
Simon will be fundraising for his London Marathon 2026 challenge within his school in Staffordshire as Headteacher, he said: “SUDEP Action need not only the funds to better support families and understand the condition, but also the awareness to be raised. I have been pleased to be able to use my position as a Headteacher to promote the message through the school community.”
If you would like to support Simon, then please visit his JustGiving page here.
