When Dad's health started to deteriorate around Christmas 2023, we as a family, decided we wanted him to stay at home as long as he could. The dining room was converted into a bedroom complete with hospital bed, community nurses came over to top up pain relief and we each took turns staying over to take the nightshift so mum could sleep. But after one particular fraught night, we knew that we needed more support - after just a few calls Dad was admitted to the Duchess of Kent Hospice.

What a blessing to our family the hospice was - nothing was too much for the compassionate and kind staff. It gave Dad the space to say a proper goodbye - sitting in the garden to chat, reading books with his grandkids, having Zoom calls with old friends and family - all with the peace of mind that we could just spend time together with him without having to worry about also being carers.

I don't know what we would have done without the Duchess of Kent and I really want to say thank you for all they did for us.

Everyone knows we Breretons love to run so this London marathon won't be a first for me in terms of distance or location... but it will be the most important one I run.