London Marathon runners raise £50,000!

Our hospital charity was fantastically supported by runners in the Virgin London Marathon, who have already raised close to £50,000! Here are some of their stories.

Hugh Morris ran for the Head and Neck cancer research fund, Heads Up. Hugh, a former England Cricketer and now head of English Cricket, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and had to undergo major surgery.

Nearly 10 years to the day after completing his treatment he finished the London Marathon in under five hours, raising over £11,500! He said: "The atmosphere was fantastic and the weather great; it was a terrific experience but I can honestly say, never again!"

Also running for Heads Up, following his father's diagnosis with neck cancer, was Jonathan Lacey. Sadly a knee injury at the 16 mile point forced him to stop. He said: "To say I am gutted would be a gross understatement." But Jonathan hopes his efforts will still raise an amazing £3,000.

Lara Cook ran for the Haematology Ward, raising over £4,000 in memory of her dad. She said: "Crossing that finish line was the best feeling ever, I remember shouting to myself, 'We did it dad!'. I know he would be so proud."

Melissa Lee ran for Cancer Care in memory of her mother's late partner, Robin. She explained: "I remember the enthusiasm Robin had for life and this spurred me on!"

Steven Radley ran his second London marathon in memory of his son, William. He said: "I was injured with a slipped disc, but there was no way I'd let myself, or William, down. It was painful and emotional but I raised over £7,500 in memory of my beautiful son. The money will go, in his name, to help lots of other sick babies who need the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the JR."

Angus Reid raised nearly £5,000 for SCCWID at the Children's Hospital. He explained: "Everything about the day was just so fantastic, the weather, the patriotic British spirit, the fellow runners, the incredible crowds egging us on. Running the marathon has been the best thing I have done and I am so happy to have raised so much for this incredible charity."

Caroline Darnell was spurred on by pupils at Wheatley Primary School and ran for the Injury Minimization Programme for Schools (I.M.P.S.) raising over £1,300. Sarah Westbrook-Burr ran in support of our Childhood Cancer Fund, raising over £1,000. She completed the course in a fantastic 4:23:44.

Suzanne Kentish ran for the Horton Maternity Ward and several other charities, in memory of her daughter who was stillborn at 39 weeks. The Horton funds will go towards hand and foot castings for other parents at a time of bereavement.
 
Andrew Styles, who works for Charitable Funds, ran for the Fund for Children, completing  the course in a cracking 3:36:06 - the fastest of all our runners. He said: "I have wanted to take part in the London Marathon for as long as I can remember, and it didn't disappoint. This was without doubt one of the best days of my life. Though the day after wasn't." Another Fund for Children runner was Lorraine Alder, who raised over £2,600. Lorraine was treated in the JR's Children's Ward when she was younger and said: "I ran to give something back to them for saving my life."

Silver Star, the fund which helps parents through more complicated pregnancies, had five runners raising £3,500. Friends Linsey Cresswell and Sarah Jones ran much of the course together. Ben Vincent and Anna Spiers ran to thank Silver Star for the care received for Hayden. Claudia Walters sadly had to pull up at seven miles due to an injury.

Liz Francis-Webb ran for the Trust's General Fund as so many of her friends and family have been treated across our hospitals. She said: "It was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, I crossed the finish line after an emotional six hours!"  Lisa Martin completed the course in a speedy 4:23:22, raising nearly £1,200 for the Oxford Eye Hospital.

Janet Sprake, who organises the hospital marathon places, said: "It's easy to say, "well done", and "we're proud of you" but no words can really express the gratitude and admiration we all feel for those who ran an incredible 26.2 miles and fought through their own agonies to reach the finish line. Their reasons were many and all had heartrending stories. We are all in total awe of their achievement.

"What a superb bunch of brave people."