This April, I will be running the London Marathon for LOROS Hospice and in memory of my big sis, Sophie. LOROS cares for more than 2,500 patients and their families across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland each year. They deliver free, high quality compassionate care and support to terminally ill patients, their family and carers.

On the 24th of March of last year, my older sister Sophie passed away at the age of 33 to an aggressive form of head and neck cancer. 

She spent 28 days at LOROS Hospice, where she received incredible care and love from the doctors, nurses and volunteers until the day she passed away. They would joke with her, bathe her, change her wound dressings, and always be on call at any time of the day or night to make her feel comfortable.

Not only did my Sister receive care, but LOROS provided my family with the support that we needed both before and after she passed away. This included counselling for my sisters two daughters Molly and Betsy. 

LOROS each year is required to raise over £6 million in funding to operate, and receives little in the way of government funding. This funding is critical to support patients, like my sister as they battle terminal illness in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area. 

Seeing first-hand the incredibly care that LOROS provides, I feel endlessly inclined to give back and support this charity. Although my fundraising at the moment might be a drop in the ocean of this £6 million figure, every donation helps.  £5 could pay for meals for a patient for a day, £10 could pay for collection of a patient from home for day therapy and £700 could pay for the cost of a nurse for one week. Your support really does make a difference to patients and their families.