I am honoured to have been selected to run the 2022 TCS London Marathon in support of The Fire Fighters Charity. They provide specialist lifelong support for members of the UKs fire services community, empowering individuals to achieve mental, physical and social wellbeing throughout their lives.

My story is one of sadness and hope. My husband Rusty Smith served for 31 years as an on-call Fire Fighter with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service stationed in Stradbroke. Rusty achieved an ambition he had longed for and worked his way up through the ranks to become Watch Commander in January 2019. Little did we know this joy would only last a few months, when suddenly, without warning Rusty died on 1st May 2019 aged just 53 years, leaving me, his wife of 17 years (spending 24 very happy years together) and our two beautiful children; at the time aged 7 and 11 years.

In some ways we "did" the Fire Service together, the middle of the night shouts, me struggling to get back to sleep, wondering where he had gone, the disturbed meals, the last minute change of plans when his alerter went off, attending award ceremonies and Fire Service functions together for the medals he very proudly received, the moments of delight as he made his ways through the ranks, listening to him and his Father (who also served as well as his Grandfather) talk relentlessly about fires and pumps, him going off to cut the Station grass or wash the appliance just when I needed him to do something else(!!)

Rusty always supported me with my sporting activities. Through my work I have organised Swimathons, Triathlons and trained numerous pool and open water lifeguards. I continue my work at the local fitness centre, which is situated right next to Stradbroke Fire Station, as well as working at the local Primary School. As you can imagine,  my sudden transition to a single parent has left me with limited spare time but what spare time I do have I run. I have completed several half marathons "just for fun"!

To run the London Marathon will be an emotional and inspiring opportunity for me to give something back for the support I have received since Rusty's passing from local colleagues and County Officers. I know Rusty would be very proud of me. One of his colleagues fondly remembers at one of the last shouts they did together Rusty talking about my running and is quoted as saying "she'll run the London Marathon one day!"

My children can no longer run up to the Station to wave their Daddy off when they hear the sirens , but they can wave me as I put in the miles to train for this event and be there when I cross the finish line. Every mile ran I will be thinking of Rusty, as I do every day and of the lives I know he would want us to enjoy to the best we can. We all still really miss him. We need to think of his legacy and what he would want us to do to make a difference and that is just what I hope to do in London on Sunday 2 October 2022.

Please donate if you can, share my story and please get in touch with me if you would like to organise any fundraising events in Rusty's memory.

With thanks

Maria