At the beginning of the year we were offered the chance to take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon.  After some serious procrastination and after reading about the impact that Leonard Cheshire has on the lives of people in local communities to provide them with opportunity, choice and support, we cast aside our initial trepidation and decided to rise to the challenge!

One of us having not run for many years and the other never before we have our work cut out! 

Our motivation...

Leonard Cheshire are committed to supporting individuals to live, learn and work as independently as they choose, whatever their ability. Led by people with experience of disability, we are at the heart of local life - opening doors to opportunity, choice and support in communities around the globe.Leading by example, we do everything humanly possible to empower people to live their lives a freely and as fully as they choose.

Some interesting information about Leonard Cheshire himself...

Leonard Cheshire was born in 1917 and like many young men and women, signed up to fight for his country in the Second World War.

His legendary war career included eight months leading No. 617 Squadron - the Dambusters - and he became the most highly decorated bomber pilot when he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1944.

At the end of the conflict, Leonard realised that he was one of the lucky ones and was seized with a desire to make the world a better place. Many ventures failed until he received a call from a local hospital, asking if an acquaintance who was dying could come and live with him. This started a lifetime of humanitarian work with disabled people, fighting injustice and working towards a society in which everyone is equally valued.

Leonard married Sue Ryder in 1959 and they made their home in the Suffolk village of Cavendish — although both spent much of the year away visiting their humanitarian projects around the world.  Leonard died from the effects of motor neurone disease on 31 July 1992, at the age of 74