Hi! I'm Damien, and I'm running the Chester Marathon on Sunday 11th October 2026 for Pendleside Hospice in memory of Martine Hamer.

Martine was a good friend of mine. She worked alongside her husband Russell at his Burnley salon. Russell's been cutting my hair for over two decades now, and Martine was the one mixing the bleach, running the hairdryers and occasionally talking me into a spray tan. She died in Pendleside's care in February 2010, aged just 35.

Pendleside cares for over 1700 people a year across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, providing services including a 10-bed inpatient unit, a Hospice at Home service, day therapy and bereavement support for families and children.

Pendleside costs over £4.5 million a year to run. An NHS grant covers roughly 20% of that, leaving over £3.5 million to be raised locally through events, shops and challenges like this one.

I haven't set a rigid fundraising target here. Every donation goes straight to keeping their doors open for families when they need them most.

Thank you for reading and supporting.