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Hospice Run 24 gets an Olympic boost and raises more than £77,000

hospice run medals

Thanks to Paralympian Will Bayley, 2012 Olympic torch bearer Derek Mepham, and all who made Hospice Run 24 an incredible success. 

The sun shone, and the atmosphere was amazing as more than 1,000 people of all ages completed a choice of four routes on Sunday, raising more than £77,000, with funds still coming in. 

will bailey with olympic torch

Olympic spirit

Just back from the Paris Paralympics where he won Silver in the men’s table tennis finals, Will Bayley delighted runners with words of encouragement. He said: “It’s great to be back in sunny Tunbridge Wells. It’s a massive honour to start Hospice Run, it’s a charity very close to my heart. You’ve all got your reasons for taking part. Every step you take along the way, think of those people you are helping, you should be so proud of yourselves.

Long-standing Hospice supporter Derek Mepham marked the Olympic year by running with the gold torch he held as an Olympic torch bearer in Pevensey Bay in 2012. He was nominated for the honour for completing 10 marathons and raising more than £40,000 for the Hospice. Now aged 74, Derek still runs regularly with wife Irene, who joined him for the 10km route. 

“This being an Olympic year, I thought I’d bring the torch back out,” said Derek. “It’s fantastic to have Will Bayley here too. We’ve had a lot of support. The atmosphere is excellent, and the samba band are great!” 

nathan and jamie at hospice run

Running for Lauren 

Father and son Nathan and Jamie ran the family route in memory of Lauren, Nathan’s wife and mum to Jamie, cared for at the Hospice last year. 

Nathan said: “We did this to help keep Lauren’s name alive. She was admitted for pain relief last year, and we ended up getting married in the Hospice gardens. We made a lot of memories in a short space of time at the Hospice. It’s a place where Jamie felt comfortable and they made life bearable really. We are raising money so other families get the same support we did.”

Jamie added: “It was fun, we got sprayed with water! think Mum would say ‘Good job boys, you’ve done it’! Next year I want to do the 5km!” 

Top fundraiser 

Taking part for the first time was Alison Stitt who did the 10km route and was delighted to discover she is the event’s top fundraiser, raising more than £3,000. Alison, of Rotherfield, said: “My friends have been bombarded with requests to sponsor me and I am so grateful for their generosity. I wanted to do Hospice Run as I said goodbye to someone very special in June and was just blown away by care, compassion and empathy the Hospice gave her.” 

harry after his 5k run

Fastest 5km

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Harry Wrigley was the fastest competitor in the 5km route at 19 minutes 26 seconds – just months after recovering from a broken back. The Skinners’ School student, who also competes for Tonbridge Athletics, said: “Two years ago I broke my back playing rugby. I ended up spending a year and a half off sport and in a back brace. This is my longest race since before the injury. I loved the whole thing, it’s a beautiful course and there’s support all the way.” 

Harry was in good company as many other Skinner’s School students also took part, along with 11 teachers, including proud head teacher Edward Wesson, who is a Trustee at Hospice in the Weald. 

Thanks to all 

Alison Mitchell, the Hospice’s Fundraising Director, said: “A big thank you to every person who ran, sponsored, cheered or volunteered to raise more than £77,000 – with funds still coming in. The Hospice is reliant on support like this to fund our free care. Thanks to you, we can help people in our community facing terminal illness to spend precious time with their loved ones, making memories that last.” 

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