Novice marathon man Damian raises thousands
DAMIAN Lacey, 45, began running four years ago, doing the Couch to 5k with Macclesfield Harriers and he decided to tackle his first marathon to raise funds for the East Cheshire Hospice following the death of his mother-in-law, Linda Tute, last September.
“Linda was cared for by the Hospice @ Home team which is a truly wonderful service and had previously spent six weeks there as an in-patient in 2017 so I knew from personal experience the important work of the hospice,” said Damian.
And Damian’s support for the hospice also has a professional foundation as he encounters it regularly in his job as a specialist Macmillan nurse working in the Macclesfield area.
He said: “I have seen the phenomenal palliative care they provide from both sides and really wanted to give something back, although I knew a marathon was going to really stretch me.”
But Damian, from Tytherington, knew he had made the right choice when he found out he had been successful in securing a place in the London Marathon on the day of Linda’s funeral.
“I had a problem with my knee from mile 16 and I had to stop at the medical bay but I got back – I think Linda must have been watching me because I got to mile 24 and the pain disappeared.”
Damian completed his race in 5 hrs 58 mins, crossing the finish line to cheers from his wife Sheona, a Macmillan nurse, daughter Eibhlin, stepson Cameron Goodall and stepdaughter Mollie Goodall.
He was pipped to the post by fellow Harrier runner Catherine Mather, who also raised funds for the hospice.
Damian raised almost £3,000 from the race and will continue to fundraise for the hospice throughout the year.
Visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/ damian-lacey.