We are Karen, Nic and Tara. Three friends with a passion for running....or more like shuffling while chatting! Our marathon journey began when we joined a women's running club, Common Runners, and it encourages us in our attempt to run the 2022 London Marathon and raise funds for an amazing charity, Shooting Star Children's Hospices.

Shooting Star is a leading children's hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families across London and Surrey. They support families from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

This charity is particularly close to Karen and her family's heart because in 2014 her daughter, Caitlyn, then aged 7 was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Angiosarcoma. She was initially treated at University College Hospital London, but sadly when her treatment became futile the family were referred to Shooting Star Chase Hampton Court. They supported Caitlyn through palliative care and the family with bereavement support after Caitlyn sadly passed away in February 2015.

Karen and her husband Warren have previously run the Royal Park Half Marathon along with Karen's sister and friends and raised over £10,000 for Shooting Star Chase in 2017. Karen is honoured to be taking part in vital fund raising for Shooting Star Children's Hospices once again.