A Dumbleton-based Mum will be running the London Marathon this month to raise money for a charity very close to her heart.
Joanna Brett, aged 41, decided to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice because she had heard positive accounts about the charity; then in a bizarre twist, her mother-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Doreen Brett, aged 74 and from Ashton-under-Hill near Evesham, is now being supported by the hospice and receiving regular home visits.
Joanna explained : “I am so pleased I decided to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice, particularly now that my mother-in-law has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. We have been absolutely overwhelmed with the care and support they have provided us with and realise just how much they touch lives such as ours. I have complete and total admiration for all the staff and cannot thank them enough. We have now decided that the hospice is going to be our family charity going forward.”
Joanna’s fundraising activities have included a coffee morning at Dumbleton Cricket Pavilion where she raised £850 and a ladies get together, which raised £150. Joanna’s two sons, George, aged 12 and William, aged 13, who both attend Bredon Hill Academy, also held a cake sale at their school, raising an impressive £170.
Joanna concluded : “Two years ago I couldn’t run to the end of the road! I decided to enter a local 5k run, then a 10k and then a half marathon. Watching the London Marathon last year made me decide to enter – I was amazed when I got a place! I am aiming to raise as much money as I can for such a worthwhile cause.”
Thirteen St Richard’s Hospice runners will be on the starting blocks this year, raising money for the hospice as well as achieving their personal ambitions of completing the famous marathon.
2017 runners Chris Little, Becky Fawkes, David Clews, Stuart Murphy and Anita Hennessey have secured places through St Richard’s Hospice’s five Golden Bond scheme places while Joanna, Simon Bond, Debbie Bullingham, Dominique Edwards, Stephanie Holmes, Nicholas Herbert, Kimberly Bailes, Freddie Neve and Mike Flatt have all secured independent places for the event.
The runners are now well into their physical and mental training schedule for the 26 mile 385 yard race, and will join thousands of fellow participants on the starting line in Greenwich Park on 23 April.
Ria Simons, Community Fundraiser at St Richard’s Hospice, said; “We are always heartened to hear of the individual stories that motivate people to nominate St Richard’s as their chosen charity. We would like to wish Joanna and all our London Marathon runners the best of luck as race day approaches!”