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Why do I want to run the marathon?

This is my story. . . .

. . . . I had always wanted to run the London Marathon, I had been saying it for quite a few years. I am sure there are hundreds of people who say and write the same thing, and this year I went for it. I applied!! When it came to thinking about who to run for it was really really easy. I knew straight away, the answer? Help the Hospices. At the risk of sounding cheesy, Help the Hospices are very close to my heart.

In mid December a number of years ago my mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was a diagnosis that came out of the blue and one that was too impact on me and my family's world forever.

Mum's illness was too advanced for treatment and the doctors said she only had a matter of days to live. My dad, my sister and I sat in the hospital with mum devastated, but one thing we all knew without hesitation was that we wanted to take mum home and spend as much time with her as we could. Mum saw Christmas and New Year, she even managed to sit and eat Christmas dinner with us, but by New Year mum's health had rapidly deteriorated. Despite the fantastic efforts of our local district nurses and us we had no choice but to take mum to our local hospice. The staff at the hospice were brilliant, the care and compassion they showed our mum and us was second to none. They knew what to say and when to say it and nothing was too much trouble. They made mum's last few hours comfortable and pain free and gave my dad, my sister and I so much support it is very hard to put into words. Mum died just after New Years Day.

I don't know how we would have coped with out the hospice staff, the unspoken sensitivity and actions were unconditional. Up until that December, I never thought I would ever need the care and support of a hospice. This was something that happened to others, not my family! It made me realise that anyone of us could need their support and kindness at any time.

I know in the present financial climate things are hard, but please, give as much as you can to Help the Hospices. I am honoured to put the rigorous training in to run 26.2 miles for such a worthy organisation, with your donations we can contribute to their ongoing help to people all over the country.