WITH months of training banked and hundreds of miles in their legs, thousands of runners are preparing to descend on the capital for this year’s London Marathon.
Runners from across Colchester and north Essex are getting ready to do their 26.2-mile victory lap around the streets of London on Sunday, including 13 St Helena Hospice fundraisers.
The Colchester-based charity has a special part in the heart of Mark Griggs who is running in memory of his wife Tracey who died two years ago at the hospice aged 55.
He was inspired to take on the iconic race after watching his daughter take part and raise money for St Helena last year.
“Once Tracey was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, we found out there was nothing more that could be done,” the Colchester resident said.
“Luckily for us, the hospice said there was a bed for her, which was fantastic.
“What that meant was my kids and I could all spend time with her in that last week. The care Tracey received was fantastic, and it went further than that with the care and support we all received as a family.”
Siblings Jon and Ali Banks will be running with their sister-in-law, Kate, in memory of Jon and Ali’s mum, Penny, Kate’s dad, Brian, and her friend Toni.
Ali said: “We decided as a team to run for St Helena because they were so supportive with the end-of-life care.
“It’s the little things like when my dad would go in and sit with my mum, they would offer him tea and cake.”
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Sam Torr, 31, started running less than a year ago after being inspired by last year’s London Marathon and decided to run for St Helena after the hospice cared for his nan, Margaret.
“St Helena was there for my nan during her end-of-life care and also for our family, and I wanted to show my gratitude by trying to give something back,” he said.
“What I’m looking forward to most about the London Marathon is the atmosphere and then finishing.
“From what everyone says, the atmosphere is electric and it's a whole different vibe, so I'm looking forward to experiencing that.”
This year’s St Helena marathon team has raised more than £30,000 for the charity.
Fundraising manager Marcus Poston said: “We need the support of our local community now more than ever, and we’re so thankful to all our fantastic runners for raising as much as they can to help the patients and families in our care.
“They have all put so much time and effort into their training and we are so proud of them all.”
The team has been sponsored by Ramsey Step Down and Care Centre, a care facility near Harwich.
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