Some people run the London Marathon to tick it off their bucket list. I'm running because I want to say thank you.

On 21st March 2026, we lost Susan "Suzzi" Higgs after her brave battle with bowel cancer.

Suzzi was the mum of my best friend, Carley. I've known Carley and her family for more than twenty years and, over that time, Suzzi became far more than my best friend's mum. She was someone who welcomed everyone with warmth, kindness and laughter. She had an incredible ability to make people feel at home, and anyone lucky enough to know her will understand just how special she was. During Suzzi's final weeks, I had the privilege of helping to care for her at home alongside those closest to her. It was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but also one of the greatest privileges. We all wanted to honour Suzzi's wish to remain at home for as long as possible, surrounded by the people she loved. As her condition deteriorated, Suzzi was admitted to St Catherine's Hospice.

I was fortunate to spend precious time with Suzzi at St Catherine's Hospice and saw firsthand the warmth, kindness and compassion of the incredible team. What stayed with me most, however, was the gift they gave to Carley, her husband Dave and everyone who loved Suzzi. Instead of spending every moment focused on medications, appointments and providing care, they were able to return to being a daughter, a husband, family and friends. They could simply sit with Suzzi, laugh together, reminisce, hold her hand and make the most of every precious moment they had left. Even her beloved dogs were able to visit her, bringing comfort and a sense of normality during an unimaginably difficult time. Those final days were no longer about caring for someone who was poorly. They became about loving someone who was still very much here. That is an extraordinary gift. St Catherine's didn't just care for Suzzi. They created the space for her family to be together, to make memories and to say goodbye with dignity, compassion and love. Those moments will stay with them forever, and they simply would not have been possible without the remarkable care provided by the hospice. That is why I chose this charity.

St Catherine's Hospice relies on donations to continue providing specialist end of life care and support to local families facing the most difficult days of their lives. I want to help ensure that more families are given the same precious gift that Carley, Dave and everyone who loved Suzzi received: the opportunity to spend their final days together, focusing on love rather than care.

Every step of the London Marathon will be for Suzzi. Every mile will be a thank you to the remarkable people at St Catherine's Hospice.

And every donation, no matter how big or small, will help ensure that other families receive the same extraordinary care, compassion and support when they need it most. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me in honouring Suzzi's memory. Together, we can help St Catherine's Hospice continue making sure that nobody has to face death and loss alone.