Story
Hi everyone,
This year I’ll be taking on the Leeds Marathon in memory of my Grandad, and to raise money for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, who cared for him – and all of us – in his final days.
My Grandad was always full of life and laughter. As a young man he cycled all the way to Blackpool, went camping, and played just about every sport going – rugby, football, cricket, and golf. He loved keeping fit, and even built his own home gym. His favourite thing though was being outdoors, walking or riding his bike along the canal.
Even after being told he only had months to live, he carried on walking and cycling. I truly believe staying active kept him going for longer, and it’s where I get my own love of fitness from. That’s why running 26.2 miles feels like the best way to honour him.
When Grandad became poorly, he spent just over a week at Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope. The staff there were incredible. They kept his spirits high – he was still cracking jokes, asking for Amanda Holden when asked if he needed anything, and grinning when the physios did a little dance for him. They gave us the gift of seeing him stay himself right until the end.
Manorlands didn’t just look after him, they looked after all of us. Their support meant we could focus on making memories together, without extra worries. That’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
Even his funeral reflected his humour – he chose All Shook Up by Elvis as his final song, only because Tutti Frutti was ruled out as too cheeky! That was Grandad all over.
So I’m running this marathon to celebrate his life, to say thank you to Manorlands, and to help ensure other families receive the same incredible care and support we did.
If you can spare anything at all, I’d be so grateful. Every penny makes a difference.
I will be sharing my journey through all the training, and the race itself on my Insta - please follow along :) https://www.instagram.com/em5_runner/
Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with Sue Ryder's support, no one has to face dying or grief alone. They are there when it matters.