Running To Raise Funds For Children With Cancer

Two Chiswick runners have added an extra 'half marathon' challenge

Two Chiswick runners are tackling the gruelling Virgin London Marathon this month dressed as superheroes as part of their bid to help children with cancer. But there is more to the story.

Phillip Lloyd and Luke Jones will be running half a marathon before starting the official course at 9am with the other runners, running a total of 41 miles on the day, April 26th. They plan to start at Hammersmith at 7 a.m. and run to the Start line before taking on the London Marathon course. The two will join 1,400 'superheroes' competing in the event dressed in capes, headbands, wristbands and running vests. 

The duo have been friends since 2003 when they met playing for Rosslyn Park rugby club. Twelve years later, and with Phil a dad himself, and with Luke's work on the paediatric bone tumour ward at the John Radcliffe hospital, they found their inspiration to raise money for children with cancer. The London Marathon seemed the ideal opportunity. But to make the challenge a bit harder and raise as much money as possible ( they have already beaten their target of £5,000), they have decided to run the half marathon at the start, turn around and then run the entire London Marathon.

Phillip,(36 ) who works in Financial Services,explains why they chose to run this year’s marathon in support of Children with Cancer UK: “The effort and pain in running the marathon is nothing compared with what children with cancer go through.  Supporting the charity is such an important step in helping those feeling real pain, both directly and indirectly.”

You can donate on Phil and Luke's Justgiving page
 
Ben Twyman, Head of Events at Children with Cancer UK, explains “All our runners are superheroes for giving up their precious time, not only to train, but to raise much needed funds to help us fight childhood cancer.”
 
Cancer is the biggest child-killer disease in the UK.  3,600 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year and the incidence has been on the increase.   There are more than 50 types of childhood cancer.  Thanks to research funded by Children with Cancer UK survival rates for the most common form of childhood cancer, leukaemia, have increased dramatically over the past 50 years, but for some rare types of cancer survival rates remain at zero.
 
The Children with Cancer UK running team can be found in races across the globe from New York to Newcastle and Portsmouth to Paris - all running to help raise funds to save young lives.
 
To help Children with Cancer UK raise essential funds and continue the fight against childhood cancer, visit childrenwithcancer.org.uk to make a donation or find out how to get involved.
 
 
childrenwithcancer.org.uk 
marathon@childrenwithcancer.org.uk
Telephone 020 7404 0808

April 21, 2015