I'm running this year for St Joseph's Hospice in Hackney where my dearest friend Rafa (or Raf, to others) was cared for in his final days.  I saw close up the amazing care and attention that he and his family received from the hospice staff at such a terrible  time. I hope you’ll join me in supporting their amazing work.

I took up running some ten years ago with Rafa, my lean, energetic and gloriously kind mejor Salvadoran amigo. Each Sunday morning, rain or shine, or even in snow,  he led the way along the canal paths, through the woods and across the fields around Hackney marshes. He would chatter, I would follow, running in the wake of his bobbing ponytail, often just grunting a response, saving my breath.  There would  always be a point where he’d stop or slow down, unhurried and unhurrying, waiting for me to catch up.

Rafa was more, much more than a running buddy. We shared a love of his native and my adopted country, El Salvador, it’s pupusas, bad jokes and  topsyturvy politics. There was a strong bond of love,  and shared culture and values that bound our families together. And we were each blessed with strong, courageous life partners. His cruelly premature departure has robbed me, us all, of someone so special. He leaves our world with one less shining light. 

I ran my first half marathon with Rafa in 2016, and then my second and third …and so on. And this will be the first time I’ll step up to the starting line without him beside me. But I absolutely know he’ll be there in spirit, with words of encouragement and regaño: “Take it slowly, pace yourself, keep your best til last”. 

Not bad advice, my dear dear friend. This one is for you Rafa, Raf! X