Grace’s Half Marathon Challenge
Nineteen-year-old Grace Harley is taking on the Ipswich Half Marathon this September to raise funds for St Elizabeth Hospice in memory of her dad, Ian (pictured below).
Grace was inspired to raise funds for the independent Suffolk charity, following the care they gave to her dad, as well as the support she received from the hospice’s 565 Service – which gives emotional support to children, young people and families living with a family member with a progressive illness.
She will be taking on her first half marathon on 21 September with thousands of other runners as they complete the route which passes many of the landmarks of Suffolk’s county town.
Grace said: “I am so grateful for the support St Elizabeth Hospice gave to Dad, myself, and our family that I wanted to give back and say ‘thank you’ in some way.
“Last year, just a month after Dad’s death, my friends and I took part in the charity’s Midnight Walk. It was so much fun and a great way to give back to such an important local cause. This year I wanted to take on an even bigger challenge and the Ipswich Half Marathon seemed the perfect opportunity!
“Training is going well. I am little nervous, but also really excited. Supporting the hospice and its 565 Service is something I am passionate about.
“Losing a parent at such a young age leaves you feeling lost, but with the 565 Service’s support, I’ve been able to take a step back and navigate my grief in a way that works best for me – adapting to a new way of living.”
Every year St Elizabeth Hospice provides support to over 4,000 patients & families living with life-limiting illnesses in East & Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney. Annually, these services cost around £12 million to deliver, with 70% of funds raised via generous community support through donations, fundraising challenges, retail shops and gifts in Wills.
James Fox-Golding, Events and Challenges Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Best of luck to Grace and all the runners who are taking on the Ipswich Half Marathon this year in aid of the hospice.
“We are so grateful to Grace for sharing her story of how our teams supported her and her family. It really is inspiring and every penny Grace raises will make a big difference to our services and those we care for.”
