I am running the London Marathon on 3^rd October 2021 for Child Bereavement UK because of the support they have given to our family and the support they continue to offer to others in need.

I do question myself: “Am I going mad for signing up for this? Why am I doing it?”

The easy answer: because I want to give something back to a fantastic charity which has been there for us in our hour of need, and that I like a challenge.

The more private and personal answer is that I am doing this for me, running has given me the time and space to begin to process the magnitude of Dave’s sudden death. It has provided me with freedom, during all the restrictions we have additionally had to face this last year. It has allowed me to realise that I am ready to look to the future and figure out bit by bit how I want that to be like for me and us, as a family.

So, what is our ‘story’, well for those of you who don’t know me well, my world was rocked and changed forever on 29^th June 2019 when my husband Dave, father to our 3 fabulous children, died in a road traffic collision whilst out cycling. The scale of our loss is unimaginable unless you have experienced something similar. Child Bereavement UK has provided us with support to come to terms with what has happened. It has given us tools to use when faced with overwhelming and unpredictable emotions. It has found creative and accessible ways for our children to keep hold of those memories of Dave (who he was, warts and all) as we carry on with our lives.

Before August 2020 I had never really run before, preferring rowing, cycling etc., and supporting the kids in all manner of sporting endeavours. However, the Northumberland scenery and pandemic restrictions on team activities inspired me to give it a go, and as I did the realisation came that I could do this, and I rather enjoyed it as well.

In December 2020 I signed myself up for my first challenge: Leeds Half Marathon and ramped up the training. By the end of February, I knew I could do the distance and in a reasonable time and began to think what next?

The London Marathon kept circling in my thoughts for several reasons:

• Dave and I met in London in September1997 and lived there until the end of 2001. It is a place filled many happy memories – the marathon route is littered with them!
• We shared a love of all sports, but every year without fail the London Marathon would be on the TV in the background. It was even the winning answer for Dave in a pub quiz.
• This year on 20^th October we should be celebrating 20years of marriage (Dave: “you get less for murder!”) and next year in May marks half a century for me. I wanted to do something personal, different, and special to mark both.

So, I bit the bullet, signed up and have got myself a place to run on 3^rd October,2021. I will be ramping up my training after the Leeds Half to try and complete the 26.2miles in style. My aims are:

• To raise as much money as possible for Child Bereavement UK (minimum £2500)
• To not only finish the marathon but to have run the whole distance (hopefully in under 5hrs)

I am running this for me but will obviously have Dave (and my family) with me every step of the way. From the music playlist in the background, to the places I will be running past. I will be imagining him with his cheeky smile and a glint in his eye spurring me on when I feel like stopping, shouting “Run Lairdy, run. Run like the wind!”.

For those he deemed worthy, he was always their biggest cheer leader, and there was no better feeling than receiving a thumbs up from him. He would spur you on and give you the belief that anything was within your reach if you tried hard enough. There are enough of you out there who, when times are tough, will stop for a moment and think “What would Dave do?”. I know without a shadow of doubt for this he would dig deep and carry on, which is what I will also being doing on the day.

Wish me luck, and if you are able please give generously.

Kate