My name is Elliot and I am a student at the University of York. I will be subbing pints for pavements in preparation for when I will be running a marathon for the first time in support of Maggie's Centres and in memory of my Gran, Val Shepherd. 

** Originally I was supposed to be completing the Manchester Marathon back on the 5th April 2020 but sadly due to the Covid-19 pandemic this was cancelled. 

However this isn't the end of the story!

I now aim to run a self-organised 'Maggiethon' (it sounds less daunting than the word marathon) in February 2021 and your support would be even greater appreciated given charities need support more than ever during these challenging times. **

Maggie's Centres mean a huge amount to my family and me. My Gran enjoyed her time at the centre in Dundee because of the homely and modern environment combined with the expert and non-institutional support provided. It made her feel exactly how she wanted to feel - normal. Maggie's Centres all around the country encompass more than you could imagine, providing the extra level of care and practical support for everyone affected by cancer and this is what makes the charity so special and unique. Maggie's are constantly building new centres and every donation to supporting me in my run helps Maggie's support those impacted by cancer. We know how my Gran benefited on every occasion she visited the centre and Maggies made a huge difference in both her life and on us collectively and this sentiment can be repeated for thousands of other families. 

Running 26.2 miles is going to bring many challenges for me however every kind and generous donation will make all the training and the day a little easier. 

Thank You.

More about Maggie's Centres:

Every year, over 300,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK, facing tough questions, exhausting treatment and difficult emotions. These challenges affect not only those with cancer but their family and friends, too.

Maggie’s is there for anyone and everyone affected by cancer, offering a programme of support that has been shown to strengthen physical and emotional wellbeing.

Built alongside the hospital, our Centres are uplifting places with professional staff on hand to offer the support people need: practical advice about benefits and eating well; emotional support from qualified experts; a friendly place to meet other people; a calming space simply to sit quietly with a cup of tea.

Last year Maggie’s received 200,000 visits and supported over 45,000 people newly affected by cancer.