Hospice supporter Jess has been selected to run the London Marathon 2021 this October, in the charity place granted to the Hospice earlier in the year. Jess has kindly shared her Hospice story with us.

“I have never run the London Marathon before, it’s meant to be one of the ‘must dos’ for a runner, although to run it will be a bittersweet experience for me.

My husband Richard was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in December 2019 and he died in October 2020 aged just 43, leaving myself and our two children heartbroken.

He spent the last few months of his life in and out of the Conquest and finally the last week in St Michael’s Hospice, where he was so well looked after, that when the opportunity came up to apply for the London Marathon place, it just felt it was the right thing to do.

I am looking forward to running the Marathon and raising money for the Hospice after they helped my family so completely. I also feel it will help in the healing process for us; to turn something so life altering into something more positive. I know Richard would have supported me wholeheartedly and I hope that by running the Marathon I can help repay the Hospice for their kindness to Richard, myself and our children”.

We are so grateful to Jess for taking up the challenge and we wish her the best of luck with training and the event itself. If you would like to show your support for Jess by making a donation, please visit her Fundraising page.

Find out how you can support the Hospice through fundraising.