Marathon runners put miles in to raise thousands for hospice
HOSPICE care charity Phyllis Tuckwell in Farnham was represented by 27 runners at this year’s London Marathon, who raised more than £26,000 at the event.
The marathon was held on Sunday October 3 with 14 runners taking part and 13 virtually running the 26.2-mile distance.
The money will help fund supportive and end of life care for Phyllis Tuckwell patients and families living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer, in west Surrey and north east Hampshire.
Fiona Chapman, events fundraiser at Phyllis Tuckwell, said: “We would like to thank all of our amazing runners for their hard work and dedication, and for choosing to support Phyllis Tuckwell.
“All of our runners were fantastic and it was great to see those who took part in the London event as they crossed the finish line, all with big smiles on their faces.”
Those running the marathon in
London included Caroline and Joanna Finill, Lee Moran, Charlie Dawkins, Jamie Burmingham, Victoria Kay, Rachel Richardson, Jamie Brewer, Natalie Pollard, Chris Buckle, Margot Applebee, Lindsey Peleman-Humber, Eleanor Dunn, and Jo Beck, who is one of Phyllis Tuckwell’s clinical nurse specialists.
Jo and Ian Ledlie, Chelsea Taylor, Jon Franklin-Ferrar, Sarah Sewell, Claire and David Osborn, John Applebee, Sharon and Kevin Shoppee, Simon Russell, Tom Clayton, and Anna Fraser, who is a volunteer doctor at Phyllis Tuckwell, all ran the virtual marathon.
Chris Finill, who is Joanna Finill’s dad and Caroline Finill’s brother, is a member of the Everpresent group which has run every London Marathon since it began.
He regularly attends Phyllis Tuckwell presentation evenings and gives advice to those running the marathon for Phyllis Tuckwell, one of whom this year was his daughter.
To keep the London event as socially distanced as possible, start times were staggered with runners beginning between 9.30am and 11am. Those who took on the virtual marathon ran the 26.2 miles on a route of their choice. Some were joined by friends and loved ones for some of the sections of their routes, and all were boosted by cheers from local people as they passed by.
Every day Phyllis Tuckwell supports more than 250 patients, relatives and carers in their own homes, in the community, at the Hospice in Farnham and at the Beacon Centre in Guildford.
The NHS and government covers about 20% of its costs and it has to raise more than £25,000 a day to be able to offer all of its services, which it gives free of charge to its patients and their families.
More information about raising money to support Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice can be logging on to the charity’s website.