A TEAM of nine runners and one wheelchair racer completed the world-famous London Marathon on Sunday 28th April 2019 in aid of local charity, St Clare Hospice. Team St Clare represented the Hastingwood-based hospice at the UK’s largest marathon, taking on the challenging 26.2 mile route through the capital to raise vital funding.

Once all donations have been received, is it expected that Team St Clare will have raised almost £25,000 in sponsorship money for the West Essex and East Herts hospice charity. That’s enough to fund more than two weeks of care and support from the hospice’s Community service, consisting of the Hospice at Home team and Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Five of the runners received Gold Bond places for this year’s London Marathon and were chosen by St Clare from a host of applicants all vying to run for Team St Clare. Six additional runners chose to run in aid of the Hospice after securing their own place through the ballot. One wheelchair racer also competed on Team St Clare after qualifying to take part in the Elite Wheelchair London Marathon.

The dedicated team who fundraised for St Clare for the London Marathon were:

Chris Peacock (55, Saffron Walden) – Gold Bond Time: 4:10:28
Darren Radford (55, Hornchurch) – Gold Bond Time: 4:12:39
Paul Warren (56, Dunmow) – Gold Bond Time: 4:36:54
Danielle Corrigan (20, Ongar) – Gold Bond Time: 5:27:00
Colin Moody (Harlow) – Ballot Time: 3:48:10
Joe Longman (Harlow) – Ballot Time: 4:08:28
Mark Nicholas (37, St Albans) – Ballot Time: 4:32:25
Sophie Gyles (26, Romford) – Ballot Time: 4:59:21
Carly Lewis (29, Harlow) – Ballot Time: 6:02:56
Adam Goldspink-Burgess (22, Harlow) – Qualified Time: 2:50:01
Sophie Vowden (32, Harlow) – Gold Bond (Deferred due to injury)
Kim Bird (62, Bishop’s Stortford) – Ballot (Deferred due to injury)

Mark Nicholas, who was part of Team St Clare at the London Marathon 2019, said: “Running the London Marathon was an unbelievable experience. To run whilst raising money for St Clare in memory of my mum was what drove me on when it got really tough, and made it even more special!”

St Clare Hospice’s Challenges and Events Fundraiser, Emma Broadbent, said: “Another year, another absolutely incredible achievement for our racers on Team St Clare at the London Marathon 2019! It’s always such a pleasure to cheer the team on at Tower Bridge on the day. Everyone did so well and we couldn’t be prouder! We are overwhelmed that the team has raised almost £25,000 between them for the Hospice – that is a huge amount of money! This vital funding will go towards our care and support for local people who are living with a life-limiting illness. Thank you so much to everyone who donated and sponsored their friends and family. It’s with your support that we’re able to do what we do. Go team!”

The ballot to run in the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon (Sunday 26th April 2020) is now open and will close at 5pm on Friday 3rd May 2019. To apply for a ballot place, please visit: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/how-to-enter/ballot-entry

Ballot runners will be announced by the end of October 2019. If you are lucky enough to secure yourself a ballot place in the 2020 London Marathon, you can join Team St Clare by contacting Challenges & Events Fundraiser, Emma Broadbent, on 01279 773754 or [email protected]

Alternatively, you can apply for one of St Clare Hospice’s five Gold Bond places for the 2020 London Marathon. Please visit: stclarehospice.org.uk/event/london-marathon