It's been 14 years and two children since I ran a marathon (and my body feels 100 years older!).

Marathon training while working full time with a 10 and 5 year old has been tough...but I am running for a reason...

I am running the 2025 Manchester Marathon on 27 April in aid of East Kent Hospitals Charity.

East Kent Hospitals charity is the NHS charity for East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust (EKHUFT). They raise funds for their wards and services to fund projects that fall outside of the NHS Budget, enhancing patient care and wellbeing, and making a real difference to people lives.

I am raising funds for an East Kent Hospitals Charity project that is close to my heart. The palliative and end of life care wards at East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust look after people at the end of their lives and those important to them, when they are not able to be at home or outside of hospital.

As the Consultant Nurse with our hospital palliative care team I have seen first hand the difference the team on the wards can make – at what is the most difficult time for people and those important to them, being able to give care that sees the person, not the patient, recognising who they are in life and death is a privilege.

I am grateful for any support you can give, your money will enable East Kent Hospitals Charity to supporting our wards by:

Funding improvements to the environment, with art, wall murals, recliner beds for family and friends, TVs and radios - creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere for our patients, their friends and family – and even sometimes beloved pets.

Funding ‘3 Wishes’ requests – The 3 Wishes project began in Canada in 2013 and has been adopted across the world. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is the first UK Trust to introduce this project, and we hope it will bring comfort to our patients and their families. The ward team work with patients and loved ones to honour and celebrate them as an individual and to fulfil their wishes as they approach the end of their life. It allows families to spend precious time with their loved one, creating meaningful moments in those last hours and days. Each ‘wish’ is a simple, personalised request, for example treasured keepsakes with finger prints of loved ones.

Thank you for your support!

Lucie