With just 3 weeks to go before they fire the gun to start the Philadelphia Marathon, the docs finally cleared Team GB (Elliott, Niki, Peter and Rachael)! We have carefully selected Philly as our first marathon on the advice of friends who are a ghoulish bunch of hobbled and limping marathon veterans who told us it was one of the 'easier 26.2 miles' you can run.... Yeah, they said that!
The charity we have chosen to run for is St Raphael's, a hospice in Elliott's home town in England. http://www.straphaelshospice.org.uk/>
We have chosen this charity as it is very close to one of our members' hearts. Like most families, Elliott's has seen all too many loved ones succumb to prolonged terminal illnesses. In the past 9 months, he has lost two uncles to cancer, and they follow his four grandparents and a few close friends. ALL of these people were cared for at this amazing place.
During their stay, patients receive treatment (known as palliative care) to help relieve pain and other symptoms causing discomfort. Even more importantly, they also receive a great deal of care and skilled attention from trained medical, nursing and support staff who work hard to preserve the dignity and individuality of each person in their care. The patients' ages range from young adults to the very elderly. A hospice cannot extend life, but this one can certainly improve the quality of life for each patient so that each day can be lived to the full. Raising money to support these incredible people in their work is our way of saying thank you - speaking for Elliott, his loved ones who have passed through their care, and his community who would be lost without them.
We know it is late notice, but please....look in your wallets, your piggy banks, your change pocket, down the back of your sofa...look in your hearts. Whatever you can give, we gladly accept, with much appreciation, in the name of Elliott's uncle Ernest 'Tony' Eden, who passed away on October 31, 2009 after being cared for at St. Raphael's Hospice.
With a great team and a fabulous coach/team member, I am happy to say that unless disaster strikes again, we shall all be running our first full 26.2 mile run on November 22nd in the city of Philadelphia. See you at the finish line!
