The Sue Ryder Oxfordshire hospice, now care hub, was an incredible support before my Uncle passed away from a brain tumour. His closest family particularly his wife and my mum were able to spend time with him in those last weeks in a beautiful, supportive and caring environment. The staff who provide this kind of support are just inspiring people...  to be there for the families who need it most and be a light in someone’s otherwise darkest, toughest times. 

So why the Marathon?!! Well When I blame Uncle Danny! There was a day I remember where he told me that he had an ambition to one day run the London Marathon! I remember thinking he was quite possibly insane! why on gods green earth would anyone actually want to RUN for 26.2 miles?! Horrific right?!  In fact I’m pretty sure I said something along those lines to him at the time! 

But of course He never got to fulfil that dream... he passed away far too young and for some reason that was one of the things I remember thinking, amongst other things he was never able to do... "He never got to Run the marathon". And do you know what I really do think he would have completed it had he been given the chance. 

Since then… every year when I've seen the marathon on TV and more recently when I’ve been there cheering on runners in person.. I've thought the same thing: How incredible it would be to be able to actually do it. To achieve something which in my mind seems almost impossible… or at least for me anyway! Despite this I've said to myself that one day I would do the marathon and when I did I would raise money for Sue Ryder. 

So here we are...  time to stop talking the talk and walk the walk or indeed run the run! I know. I’m not exactly a natural runner but I’ve come to the decision to just get off my ass and do it! perhaps it’s because I've been so inspired by my brother in law and a few others who have taken this challenge on and completed it... or maybe I'm having a midlife crisis (turning 40 in Feb!) so its feeling a bit like "now or never" ...orrr perhaps I've just run out of bloody excuses and realised that the only thing holding me back from being able to run a marathon is actually me (I don't think I can keep blaming the short legs anymore)

So yep. I HAVE DECIDED TO RUN THE LONDON MARATHON! YES me! Short, little legged me with my "urrgghh I hate running" attitude... so this I know all too well will NOT be easy. But hey what in life really is?. and if there's one thing we know about me is that whilst I might have a habit of making questionable life choices at times (no further comment here)  I am also a stubborn cow! with a passion for proving people wrong! I also know that I'm lucky to have the health and opportunity to be able to run at all. So I'm running (jogging, walking, crawling) with gratitude and with hope and heart and for all the families that might one day have to be in a heart-breaking situation where they need the incredible care of Sue Ryder staff to support them.  I want to be able to contribute and raise some money to make sure they can do that and be there for those families like they were for mine. If that is not motivation enough I don't know what would be. 

I mean if someone wants to also stick Marcus Mumford  at the finish line for me then that could potentially help spur me on a little.. ?!  

So wish me luck!! oh christ on a bike! It's now that the  training and hard hard haaard work begins. It’s gonna be a journey that’s for sure …I've got amazing supportive friends and family to keep me motivated but donations and seeing the fundraising amount go up and up bit by bit will be what keeps me going and will mean the world to me!

If I make it through this all in one piece I will buy you a pint if you sponsor me (ok so maybe not aaallll of you ) but I promise to at least entertain you with tales of training and you will see for yourself that if I can ….ANYONE can! 

xxx

Bex 

ps. if you're reading this and you do actually know Marcus Mumford …have a word!!  Cheers! X