The Hospice of St Francis is a charity that means a huge amount to us and our family, which is why we’ve decided to take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon together.

Following the recent passing of Sam’s dad, we wanted to do something positive in his memory. He had a special connection with the Hospice, having volunteered there for over 15 years as a gardener — giving his time to a place that does so much for so many people.

The Hospice has also been there for our family in other ways, providing care and support to a close family friend during an incredibly difficult time. Because of these connections, it’s a place that will always hold a special place in our hearts.

We’ll be running the half marathon in memory of Sam’s dad and to give something back to a charity that has been part of our family’s lives for many years.

For Sam, this will be his first ever running event — and the furthest he’s ever run by quite some distance! Taking on 13.1 miles together will certainly be a challenge, but knowing who we’re doing it for will make every mile worthwhile.

We’d be incredibly grateful for any support or donations along the way. It really will mean a lot to us and our family. ❤️

The Hospice of St Francis supports over 2000 local people who are managing, or recovering from, serious illness. We help them to live their precious lives well by improving symptoms, working with them to achieve personal goals and helping them to feel safe.

Our care takes many forms and our professional team plus dedicated and trained volunteers care for people with a wide range of illnesses.

We help patients in their own home or at our Hospice through 1:1 appointments or group sessions, ranging from physio, nursing support or complementary therapy.

The Hospice of St Francis relies on voluntary donations like yours to help us raise over £6 million every year that is needed to provide our special free care, as less than 20% of this comes from the NHS. By supporting this event you are ensuring that our special care can carry on for those that need us in their time of need.