Shooting Star Chase, the children’s hospice in Middlesex, was represented by 77 runners who raised £124,000 for the charity.
Runner Graham Russ completed the race in just over three hours, while Paul Chandler, whose son Dominic has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and has been supported by Shooting Star Chase for nine years, completed the marathon in just under five hours dressed as Captain Caveman. He said:
“The atmosphere was probably the best one I have ever run in, having run in nine London Marathons in aid of Shooting Star Chase. This year the weather just brought out an extra layer of people and enthusiasm and it was an absolute joy to run being supported all the way round. Also wearing my Captain Caveman costume meant at 20 miles when I was feeling a bit tired, I could spend the last six miles trotting around high-fiving all the children in the crowd.”
A team of eight runners and one wheelchair racer completed the marathon in aid of St Clare Hospice in Essex. When all donations are received is it expected that Team St Clare will have raised over £22,000. Runner Tamsin Dowsett said:
“Preparing for the marathon is one of the most challenging things I have done – mostly due to an injury brought on by training. However, it taught me about resilience and how ultimately everything can be alright in the end as the experience was amazing and I walked away injury-free. The marathon is something I now believe anyone can do. Our bodies are amazing and nothing is impossible!”
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Surrey saw 18 runners take part, raising £34,000 for the charity. A week earlier two supporters had taken part in the Brighton Marathon, raising an additional £2,000.
Tim Bartholomew was the fastest of the hospice’s supporters in the London race, finishing in three hours 17 minutes, closely followed by Marie Notermans in three hours 35 minutes.
Phyllis Tuckwell’s Events Fundraiser, Fiona Chapman said:
“We would like to say a huge thank you and very well done to our dedicated marathon runners, who have raised an incredible amount of money to help fund our vital supportive and end of life care. £36,000 is a huge amount of money and could pay for over nine months’ care from one of our Hospice Care at Home nurses.”
National charity Hospice UK had support from 180 runners, and are hoping to raise £368,700 from the event. Among the racers was Louise Cox, running in memory of her friend Kath Osmond who died of cancer last year after being cared for at Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay. Louise has raised over £4,000.
While this year’s marathon only happened just over a week ago, registration for the 2019 race is already open. For more information visit Virgin London Marathon
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