I am running my first ever marathon this April, in memory of my dad.

In March 2020, a week before lockdown, my dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He died 6 months later, on September 9th 2020. He was in St Ann’s Hospice for his final week and their care let us relinquish our roles as carers and nurses that we had had to rise to, and just be his family again.

My dad was supportive, kind and witty. He made beautiful things out of wood. He loved watching rugby and making fish pies, and I really wish he was still alive.

Dad ran a marathon once, and I think he’d be very proud :) Plus, the finish line for this year ends outside the University of Manchester’s Brunswick Park - a park that he project-managed the creation of while working for UoM and has a bench dedicated to him. So that’s very special too! A nice thing to run towards.

I will forever be grateful to St. Ann’s for their kindness and care that week in September 2020. They need lots of our support to keep going and provide that for other people. So please help me to do that while I run a very very long way! 🌟