I used to say I was never going to attempt a marathon: too hard, too long, too much training.

But in 2025 I ran the London Marathon in memory of my dear friend Laura, who died from ovarian cancer in June 2024.

It was hard, it was long and it did involve too much training, but it was also rewarding and exhilarating, and this year I am going to attempt the London Marathon 2026 to try to raise more money for the North London Hospice that cared for Laura.

I'm pretty nervous about running the marathon this year: the news agenda has been nuts and it's made the training really hard to fit in, but I am determined to complete the course.

You were all so brilliant last year, and we raised over £18,000 for the North London Hospice in memory of Laura - thank you so much. I hope some of you are able to go again with me this year, spread the word and help raise some more money for this great charity.

Laura died when she was just 48 years old from ovarian cancer and the hospice gave her very meaningful quality of life at the end of her life. That was very precious to her and her family and friends.

The North London Hospice is a registered charity that's been caring for people for the past 40 years. It supports 3,500 patients a year but it needs donations to keep going. It costs over £16m a year to fund the hospice's care, with around a third of that money coming through the NHS. It can only keep giving the care it does through fundraising, which is why I hope this marathon effort can go a little way to help.

Thank you and wish me luck! Beth

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