Support St Ann’s marathon runners racing in memory of their dads!
Isabel and Craig will be going the combined distance of 84 kilometers in Manchester and London, can you help them raise £8.4k?
Craig Weatherill and Isabel Maccabee outside St Ann's Hospice, Heald Green | PIC: Owen Peters Photography
Two St Ann’s supporters are running a marathon each in memory of their dads who were cared for by the hospice – Can you help them raise the distance of two marathons?
Isabel Maccabee and Craig Weatherill both from Manchester are raising funds for St Ann’s as they get ready for the challenge of running a marathon.
Isabel will be running the Manchester Marathon while Craig will be making the journey down to the London Marathon. Both events take place on the same day, Sunday, April 27.
Since the racers will be running a combined distance of 84k, St Ann’s are rallying support behind them and asking the public to help raise £8.4k.
Events coordinator at St Ann’s Hospice, Laura Hindley commented.
“Isabel and Craig are undertaking a remarkable challenge in running 26.2 miles (approx 42 kilometers) each. They are providing St Ann’s with fantastic support in raising money for ongoing care for our hospice. To thank them for undertaking this impressive feat, we are asking the public to get behind them and help them cross the line by matching their distance in fundraising.”
Isabel’s dad, Paul was cared for by St Ann’s Hospice in his final week in September 2020. He was diagnosed with cancer in March of that year.
“For us, as a family, that week that he was here was so important because during those months, my mum, sister, and I were very much carers. We had a lot of special moments with him, of course, but it felt that we were nurses and every other role under the sun to meet his needs, and make him as comfortable as possible,” she said.
I think it is possible to have a good death, and I feel like that is what we managed to have here in this hospice, because they allowed us to take a step back and just be people Isabel Maccabee, Manchester Marathon Runner
Craig’s dad, Ken had returning battles with cancer over the course of seven years. A returning brain tumour in 2018 was deemed too dangerous to operate on.
He was admitted to St Ann’s in autumn of 2019 for pain management and was released. He returned in early 2020 due to a chest infection and passed away at the hospice on March 23, 2020.
“Dad fought everything so well, he always kept going… St Ann’s were truly amazing. The support from the staff, they were so friendly and professional, but they also felt like family and friends,” Craig said.
After he passed, I felt the need to give back to St Ann’s. They provided me with the opportunity to run in the London Marathon so it’s a great way to raise money for them Craig Weatherill, Manchester Marathon Runner
St Ann’s will be hosting a cheer point for the Manchester Marathon outside the St Ann’s Hospice charity shop in Altrincham, anyone who would like to take part in cheering Isabel and our other runners on please email events@sah.org.uk
You can support our runners by donating online to their individual Just Giving pages. You can find Isabel’s by clicking here, and Craig’s by clicking, here.