Magnificent seven running London Marathon for FORCE

London Marathon runners outside Buckingham Palace

Good luck to our very own magnificent seven taking part in this month’s TCS London Marathon to raise money for FORCE.

Andrea Apps, Lucy Basey-Fisher, Louise Carpenter, Harriet Fuller and Victoria Hill will all be on the start line in Greenwich on Sunday April 23.

Margaret Hawman and Brandon Taylor are running the Virtual London Marathon.

Between them they have already raised more than £5,000 for FORCE – amazing!

Ambition

It’s been Andrea’s ambition to run the London Marathon for at least 10 years.

“I have chosen to raise funds for FORCE, who help cancer sufferers and their families through the toughest of journeys,” said Andrea.

“They have helped several friends and their families over the years, sadly my friends aren’t here to see me complete the marathon.”

She is also taking part in the Great West Run for FORCE.

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrea-apps1

Lucy is raising as much as she can for FORCE because we supported her dad when he had bowel cancer.

She’s no stranger to the distance.

Iconic

When the 2020 event was postponed, she ran a virtual London Marathon at home instead – on her treadmill, around her garden and out on the roads around her home.

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lucy-basey-fisher2

Taking part in one of the world’s most iconic events is just the latest in a prolonged fundraising campaign by Louise.

She inspired a team of cyclists to raise £50,000 for FORCE by riding from Exeter to Ipswich last year in memory of her partner, Mark Davis.

“Fundraising for FORCE has been an absolute pleasure,” she said.

“It has personally given me the chance to give something back to the charity that helped myself and Mark after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019.

“They helped so much during his treatment in many areas including the financial side, providing us with the information that we needed and welcoming us and making us feel that we were not alone on our journey.

Inspired

“After helping his friends fundraise last year on their epic bike ride from Exeter to Ipswich, I was inspired to continue the fundraising for such an amazing local charity.

“Everyone is so friendly and supportive and encouraging of the fundraising that I am doing. When I run the marathon, I will be running for all those people and their families that need the service and amazing support that FORCE can give.”

Louise has been raising money at a series of street and supermarket collections ahead of the marathon and has even committed to two more at Exeter Morrisons on the weekend after her London challenge.

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louise-carpenter10

Victoria is aiming to set a new world record when she lines up alongside around 50,000 others.

She’s aiming for the fastest time dressed as a fairytale character – look out for Snow White dashing through the streets of the capital!

“I had already secured my place at London by qualifying at the Manchester Marathon in April and so I thought it would be fun to attempt a World Record and aim to raise some money in the process,” said Victoria.

Reminder

“My friend, Kate Salter, recently finished treatment for breast cancer and has been so brave and a real inspiration. I asked her which charity she would like me to raise money for and she immediately thought of FORCE.

“Training has been going really well (despite a ski accident last week) and I am looking forward to being on the start line at London and doing my best to break the record.

“I guess the injury has been a little reminder of how things can change unexpectedly. But if Kate can over come her diagnosis then I can definitely run a marathon!

“The London marathon is a fantastic event and one that I have been lucky to run a few times. So, I wanted to set myself a fun challenge whilst also raising money for a brilliant local charity.”

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/victoria-hill21

Harriet recognised the importance of supporting a local organisation when her place at London was confirmed.

“I was lucky enough to get a ballot space and as such can fundraise for a charity that isn’t able to have charity places for high profile events like this,” she said.

“I have chosen to support FORCE Cancer Charity, who provide care and support for those who have been diagnosed with cancer as well as their loved ones and carers.”

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harriet-fuller2

Running a marathon was on Margaret’s bucket list and she wasn’t deterred when she was unlucky in the entry ballot for London.

“When I got an email about the Virtual London Marathon, I was fired up to run distance and went for it!”

“There was never any doubt which charity I would fundraise for as they were there for me when needed them.

“In December 2015 I was diagnosed with cancer of the left tonsil. The help when I needed it that came from FORCE was fantastic – a counsellor to help with facing the treatment, a gym trainer to help with getting my fitness back after the muscle weakness from fighting the illness, support available for whatever you wanted help with.