Over the years many of us have lost loved ones for a different number of reasons but St Joseph’s Hospice opened in Hackney in 1905, and since then has been caring for and supporting people affected by serious illness in eight London boroughs. They work to improve the quality of life of more than 2,100 patients with life-limiting conditions each year, helping them live life to the full, to the very last.

My Mum came here in 2014 after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, this as you can imagine was a devastating time for us as a family. St. Joseph’s were wonderful from the moment she arrived and the respect, warmth and genuine care we all received is something that has stayed with us all for a long time and that is why I’m choosing to run the Marathon in her honour and raise £2000 towards the running of this amazing place.

St Joseph’s have to raise £16,000 each day to keep vital services running and available to the 2.2 million people in our diverse community, so every penny raised for the hospice is really important, and very much appreciated.

If you donate just £1 you’ll be giving back to something that gives so much to the East End Community and hopefully with our contribution will continue to do forever more.

I’ve decided that I’m going to participate in the Marathon in costume as Superman, firstly it’s my initials lol but more importantly is that if you know comic book lore is that Superman and the emblem emblazoned upon his chest is a symbol of hope, it represents that with all the sadness that happens in our world that we can still hope for happiness to rise from it and a positivity that we can share and pass on to others who may be struggling at a time when it may seem that all hope is lost. My Cape I’m going to create will reflect this. I’m creating to wear a “Cape of Hope”to wear on the day which will have pictures of lost loved ones, if you donate then all you have to do if you would like to is to send me a picture of someone you have loved and lost and I’ll add their picture to my “Cape of Hope” which will be a big red collage of lots of people no longer with us who I’ll also honour and will also honour me by being on my back to help me through the 26.2 miles. This I feel will help me as in my heart I want to be a “Superman” but I’ll need the strength that this will give me to complete the task at hand.

I will do this for all those that we have loved and lost. For my Mum, my Dad, my grandparents and for all of you and yours too for that one day maybe I can be a Super Man too.

Thank You

Stephen x