Ramsey's marathon in memory of 'amazing' young boy
But the former Wales captain and Arsenal midfielder has taken a different path. On Sunday, he will be running the London Marathon. "I'm excited," Ramsey tells BBC Sport Wales.
"Training's been difficult, when the rain's coming down and it's wet and windy, and it can be quite a lonely place sometimes. "But actually, I've enjoyed it in a weird way, being in the trenches a little bit. " There is a reason why Ramsey is putting his body through this ordeal so soon after stepping away from his life as a professional footballer.
The 35-year-old is running the marathon to support It's Never You, a charity founded by his friends, Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis, after their six-year-old son, Hugh, died from a rare cancer. Ceri is also taking part on Sunday. He will be carrying Hugh's shoes around his neck, while wearing the names of more than 500 children affected by serious illness on his back.
"As a charity, it's really close to my heart," says Ramsey. "I know Ceri and Fran and their family. I knew Hugh very well.
My eldest boy, Sonny, is a similar age and they used to play with each other. "I can't imagine what they went through and what they are going through, but they've been an absolute inspiration to me, my family and many others. " Beauty forged in pain: Ramsey, Wales' 'best midfielder ever' Hugh was five years old when he was diagnosed with a high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma in October 2020.