Our News

Introducing our London Marathon runners

11 April 2008

We have 27 people entering the Flora London Marathon this year. 
 
With every step our runners are enabling the charity to provide more care for people living with life limiting illnesses. We offer a dedicated service to runners, from providing training tips to fundraising ideas.

Each year we need to raise £13 million in voluntary income to continue to provide care that liberates lives at 14 care centres nationwide.

OUR RUNNERS:

Leeds man running in memory of his wife who died on the day of the London marathon last year - Christopher Gorse is running the marathon in memory of his wife Ruth, who was cared for at Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields hospice. Ruth died at the age of 35 on the day of the 2007 London Marathon. Chris says that Ruth led a positive life and continued to work as a PR teacher and was active for all the five years that she had breast cancer.  Chris said:
 “Having always promised myself that I would run a marathon, I was clearly left with no option but to stop talking and get on with it.  I secured a place with the Sue Ryder Care team and started training.  The challenge and the training have been a huge help in getting through the last year.  It has given me a purpose. I am aware that the hospice has to raise 2 million to keep on running and providing its excellent services for the local community.”

Chiswick man running the first of his marathon a year in memory of dear friend - Chris Twiselton, an actor who lives in Chiswick is running the Flora London Marathon in memory of his close friend, Norman Lamb who was cared for at Sue Ryder Care – Thorpe Hall Hospice. 
Norman died at the hospice in December 2007.  Having seen first hand the excellent care Norman received from Sue Ryder Care Chris was determined to give something back.  Chris contacted Thorpe Hall Hospice the day after Norman died wanting to make a donation and they suggested he do the marathon – Chris hasn’t looked back. Training began on New Years Eve 2007, leaving only 4 months to prepare for the mammoth task ahead.  The actor says that training and fundraising has taken over his life and he loves it. Chris hopes to raise £4000 this year and wants to run a marathon every year for Sue Ryder Care.  Norman was such a good friend of Chris’s and fundraising for the charity, whose staff gave remarkable support and dedication whilst  helping his dear friend, has become a big part of his life

Chelsea banker stretching beyond the desk for exceptional cause - Guiseppe Nuti from Chelsea who says that the height of his physical activity before entering the marathon was to lift his coffee cup up will be running as part of the Sue Ryder Care team. The banker decided to run for Sue Ryder Care after hearing heartbreaking stories from his girlfriend who is a nurse and worked briefly on a palliative ward. Guiseppe is behind schedule on his training plan so says he will be relying on the miraculous powers of an extraordinary portion of pasta from the night before.

Wandsworth nurse running to say thank you for Sue Ryder Care support - Alison Greener, a nurse at Tooting Walk in Centre, St Georges Hospital is running to raise money for Sue Ryder Care – Cheltenham Hospice because of the excellent care her mother, Norma who is living with a serious lung disease,  receives there. Alison, who has never ran a marathon before says she is running to say thank you to and support Sue Ryder Care who she says has provided expert and compassionate care.

Bedfordshire MP supporting local charity – Alistair Burt MP for North East Bedfordshire is running the marathon for Sue Ryder Care – St John’s Hospice.  Alistair believes St John’s Hospice is a vital part of Bedfordshire life, with hardly a family not touched by its work in some way. The MP is an ambitious fundraiser and has set himself the grand target of £10,000.

Running in memory of beloved Aunt – David Jones from Bedford is tackling the London marathon in memory of his Aunt who passed away in 2007.  Before she died David asked her what he could do and she challenged him to run the Flora London Marathon.  David has been training hard as he really wants to give something back to the charity who looked after his aunt in such a caring and respectful way.

Portsmouth Sue Ryder Care shop manager - Jackie Marris, from Drayton, Portsmouth. Jackie has been the shop manager at Sue Ryder Care on Havant Road, Drayton for three years. Jackie says she knows that the money the charity raises through its shops and events has an incredible impact on people’s lives. A regular runner with the Portsmouth Joggers Jackie has been training hard including her last long run to Porchester Castle and back.

Haringey man swapping football boots for trainers - Antony Last, a graphic designer living in Haringey is a newcomer to running and incorporated football into his training schedule. Antony grew up near to Sue Ryder Care – Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterbrough. He says that he knew people locally that used the facilities at the hospice and greatly benefited from them.  

Scarbrough birthday girl - Karen Messanger, a photographer. Both Karen’s parents work at the local Sue Ryder Care shop and she was inspired to run for the charity after hearing stories of where the money raised goes to. Karen says she hadn’t realised that Sue Ryder Care helps people living with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke and cancer. Conditions which Karen has seen friends’ lives been turned upside down. Karen will turn 25 two days before the marathon.

St Helens woman Rachael Fishwick - Rachel’s Grandma patient at Sue Ryder Care Birchley Hall in Billinge. Rachael said: “My Grandma used to go there as a day patient, but when she was no longer able to look after herself, Birchley Hall was her first choice of residence. I often go to visit her and I can see first hand the fantastic level of care she receives.”

Anyone running for Sue Ryder Care will join a team of others just like them, whether walking a 5k race or completing a marathon. Every runner is supported from sign-up to the finishing line and collecting every last penny.

 

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