The combined efforts of more than 70 runners in the Reading Half Marathon last weekend have raised more than £19,000 in donations for Sue Ryder.
In all, 74 runners chose to fundraise for the palliative and bereavement support charity, one of the Silver Partners of this year’s event.
Among them were 34-year-old Lauren, who ran alongside family and friends in memory of her beloved father-in-law, Colin Eagle.
Described by Lauren as an ‘amazing, loving person, who brought joy wherever he went’, he was cared for at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading, before passing away five years ago aged 56.
“The care Sue Ryder provided to Colin and his family made the hardest times imaginable that little bit easier,” said Lauren. “The staff did everything they could to support us all, and we can never say thank you enough.”
Lauren’s fundraising team have raised £10,000 in donations. A gesture, she says, will go some way to repaying the team for the kindness they showed her family.
“Knowing the generous donations of our friends, family and colleagues will help other families through the toughest of times kept my legs moving through the final miles,” she said. “The support from the crowds and Sue Ryder at the Half was amazing, and made a tough race that little bit easier.”
Representatives from Sue Ryder were on hand for a pre-race team pep talk, as well as offering refuelling at the official Sue Ryder cheer point outside the hospice.
Marcella Rice, Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice, said: “When people like Lauren and her family and friends take on challenges like this to raise funds as a way of giving back to the hospice, it really does mean so much.
“All the funds raised will enable us to continue providing compassionate care to those in their final days, as well as much-needed support for their families during such difficult times.
“Reading Half was once again a brilliant event for Sue Ryder to be involved in this year. We are so grateful to all our supporters who ran, and we loved being there to cheer them on.”
For over 70 years, Sue Ryder has been offering support and strength to people living with a life-limiting illness or grief.
“At Sue Ryder, we can’t make life’s most difficult moments easy, but we can carry some of the load,” a spokesperson for the charity said. “Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. We are a safe and reassuring hand you can reach for.
“From providing care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, we know there is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need. We campaign for everyone who is approaching the end of their life or grieving to have access to the right support, at the right time. And we seek to break down the barriers to talking about dying and grief – so we can all be better prepared and better equipped to be there for each other.
“We can make a positive difference during even the darkest of times. Whether in the last months, weeks or days of life, or living with grief, we help people live the best life they possibly can. We are there when it matters.”
Want to do your bit to support Sue Ryder? Applications are open for the Reading Half Marathon 2025, and you can register to fundraise for the charity by visiting www.sueryder.org/get-involved/fundraise-for-us/events/reading-half-marathon-2025/
