A team of eight people are gearing up to run the Virgin London Marathon 2012 to raise money for St Elizabeth Hospice.
Between them they hope to raise around £15,000 for the charity by completing the 26 mile challenge on April 22nd.
Among them are the Hospice’s own community fundraising team leader Rachael Maidment (left) , 29, of Stowmarket, who was inspired by all the people who have run for the Hospice in recent years to take on the challenge herself.
She said: “I am not a runner and have health problems with my feet so it is not going to be easy.
“But I have seen so many people take on challenges to raise money for the Hospice that I thought it was time I set myself a tough target.
“I am determined to raise at least £5,000 for the Hospice.”
Catch up with Rachael Maidment’s training progress on her blog http://rachmarathon.blogspot.com
or you can support her at http://www.justgiving.com/Rachael-Maidment
It will also be Ipswich Building Society area manager Paul Millar’s (below second left) first attempt at running the London Marathon. He has supported the Hospice for a few years with his colleagues at the Tower Ramparts branch. The 44-year-old said: “I have seen and heard firsthand about the fantastic work the Hospice does.”
Sara Dann’s mother Barbara, a postmistress and well known Suffolk shopkeeper, died aged 56 at the Hospice in September 2010 following a long battle with ovarian cancer.
Miss Dann, 32, (right) of Norwich, said: “The care she received at the Hospice was the best we could have wished for.
“The support given to the family was incredible.
“Watching mum battle cancer with such courage and strength has made me want to do something courageous and being a complete amateur, running a marathon seems to me like the biggest challenge of all.”
http://www.justgiving.com/SaraDann
Stacey Stephenson (right), 24, of Felixstowe, will be running in memory of her granddad.
She said: “The staff at the Hospice were wonderful and I was shocked when I realised how much it relies on fundraising.”
It will not be the first time Simon Goldsmith, 38, of Little Bealings, has raised money for the Hospice – he attempted to break a world record impersonating Elvis Presley. And he will dressed as the King when the runs the Marathon.
He said: “My dad was cared for at the Hospice and I have so much admiration for the staff and volunteers there.”
Francois Bruner, 37, of Aldeburgh, who said he signed up because he wanted to help such a worthy cause is hoping to beat his previous time of 4h 27 mins.
He said: “I hope to raise as much money as possible for the Hospice and alredy have a lot of support in Aldeburgh.”
Ballot place runner Tim Keenan (left), 50, of Ipswich, will be taking on the challenge for the second time.
He said: “I wanted to support the Hospice because my partner’s sister was cared for there. I would like to raise at least £3,000 if I can as it is such a worthy cause.”
Ballot place runner Bev Woodruffe (right) , 35, of Brockdish, will be running her first marathon.
She said: “I think we cannot underestimate the support that St Elizabeth Hospice gives to people and their families and I want to support that.”
If you received a marathon place in the ballot and still haven’t decided which charity to run for, why not choose St Elizabeth Hospice. Our fundraising team will support you every step of the way.
If you would like to run for us next year please contact fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk