Fundraisers set to take on the London Marathon for St Nic’s

Hospice fundraisers will be among those pulling on their running shoes to tackle the London Marathon this weekend.

Among those undertaking the iconic 26.2-mile challenge in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care, Dan Frost and Lucy Cronin will join around 50,000 others at the starting line on Sunday, 2 October, for the TCS London Marathon.

For Dan Frost, the London Marathon will be the first of three running challenges he will be taking part in to raise funds for the charity in memory of his wife, Lisa.

Lisa was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March 2020. Lisa spent five weeks (November 16- December 19, 2021) receiving end-of-life care at the hospice. Lisa died aged 43 on December 19.

Dan said: “The amazing hospice nurses that she called angels made Lisa as comfortable as possible and allowed her to share valuable moments with our children and close family in a caring environment.

“The advice and support given to us as a family from the staff and nurses at the hospice was so important at such a difficult time. The direction and support have continued over the last nine months since we lost Lisa, and that has allowed us as a family to find strength during such a tough time.

“We are very grateful for Lisa’s care at the hospice and feel it was a place where she could have time to reflect and think.”

After Sunday’s marathon, Dan, who also volunteers for St Nic’s, will be taking part in the Athens Marathon on November 13 and the Hardmoors Ultramarathon on January 7, 2023.

You can support all of Dan’s fundraising efforts here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/daniel-frost1979.

Personal trainer Lucy Cronin will also be putting in the miles in aid of St Nic’s. Lucy, alongside the rest of her 365 Motivate team, is no stranger to raising funds for the charity and has been busy training over the last 16 weeks, running three or four times a week.

Her runs have seen her run around the whole of Bury, the longest distance being 20 miles, but her biggest challenge was a training run she completed while she was on holiday in Turkey.

Lucy said: “The hospice has touched so many people’s lives. All of my clients know someone who has used the hospice’s services. Whether it is end-of-life care or guidance on how to deal with grief. I think the hospice is an essential and amazing service that we have in Bury St Edmunds.”

After the marathon, Lucy will also be joining the rest of the 365 Motivate team for a 55-mile walk on October 15 and 16. Since they started fundraising for St Nic’s in 2016, the team has raised more than £10,000 for the charity with everything from spinathons to the three peaks challenge to family fun days and much more.

You can support Lucy’s efforts here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lucysmarathon2022.

Also, running the marathon to raise funds for the hospice, which supports people across West Suffolk and Thetford facing dying, caring, and grief will be Ian Miller, Jon Barrows, Sam Blackholly, Freddie Allum, Olivia Allum, Melanie Furness, Julie Dunlop, Martin Smithson and Claire Douglas.

Charlie De-Moore, the hospice’s events manager, said: “We are so grateful to each of our amazing TCS London Marathon runners.

“Taking on this challenge is a huge undertaking, and we can’t thank them enough. I know they have all put in a massive amount of training, and I hope they can enjoy the marathon on Sunday and really soak up the fantastic atmosphere.

“They will collectively raise thousands of pounds for St Nic’s funds which are vital and will help support the care we give to our community.

“Good luck, everyone, and thank you.”