Reasons to run

When running for others brings hope

I had a phone call last week. It was from the fundraising coordinator for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“Hi, is that Laura? I just wanted to let you know that you were one of our biggest fundraisers last year.”

She’d called to let me know that I’d raised, with Gift Aid, just over £8,100 for the charity, and that the money could fund more than 200 hours of nursing, or pay for 19 grants for people living with cancer.

“I just wanted to say thank you, it’s amazing what you did,” she added.

My response was possibly a little more enthusiastic than I’d planned. I was delighted that I’d had the call and that I’d been responsible for helping this charity as much as I could. I think I said it really was the least I could do.

You may or may not have heard me harping on about running The Macmillan Way (!) – the goal was to raise as much money for Macmillan Cancer Support, with my mate Mo in mind. She’s currently still undergoing treatment for cancer, and has nothing but praise for the organisation that continues to support them.

I’d run it for her – and the distance really felt inconsequential when you consider what she and her family have gone through.

What I hadn’t made public is that just before I set off of my journey, my dear school friend Emily died of breast cancer, earlier that July.

When I felt hopeless, when I hurt, when I wondered what the hell I was doing, I thought of Emily, and I thought of Mo, and I thought of countless other people who fight battles every day of their lives, and I was reminded over and over again, that in spite of the pain and discomfort, I am so lucky to be able to do this.

Saturday, March 4, would have been Em’s 41st birthday – she was just six month’s younger than me. She left behind a husband and two tiny girls who miss her every day.

Liam, her husband vowed to run this year’s London Marathon and to honour her birthday, he’s organised this fantastic initiative, Run4Emily

The idea is that anyone can run over Em’s birthday weekend, as far or as little as they wish, to help raise funds for Winston’s Wish, and Plan International, the charities that have supported Liam and the girls.

I’m going to join with Liam and others in Warminster on Saturday, and it would be great for anyone else who wants to, to run some miles too. Liam would love for 30 countries to get involved – he’s close to that target.

You can share your pictures and show your support for Liam by tagging Run4Emily in any runs you do over the weekend, and please visit the website and share the fundraising link at to help spread the word.

So although I run for me. There are times when it’s wonderful to able to run for others too. Not everyone can run, so I’ll run for those who can’t.