Running the London Marathon plus 100 miles more for Leigh

Jane and Leigh’s friendship began nine years ago, when Jane moved into a house only two doors down.

“Our girls became best friends at school and from that moment on we were solid friends,” Jane says. “Leigh made everyone feel welcome. Her door was always open to everyone. She was kind, funny, sharp‑tongued in the best way, and she had this incredible ability to sort people out and lift them up. She was a force of nature – a one‑off.”

Leigh, a mum of 15‑year‑old triplets and wife to Simon, lived with triple negative breast cancer for five years before being admitted to Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.

“The nurses had so much time for her and the family,” Jane says. “They made her feel safe, comfortable, not frightened and special. The girls could visit whenever they wanted. It made her last days feel normal for them, as much as they could be. And it enabled Simon to spend precious time with her. That is priceless.”

“Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is calm and gentle. You walk in and you feel like everyone has time for you, no matter what they are doing.”

Last year, Jane ran the London Marathon in full Buzz Lightyear fancy dress, FaceTiming Leigh along the route.

“I cried a lot of the way,” she says. “It was extremely emotional.”

Before Leigh died, Jane promised she would run the marathon again and then run all the way home to the hospice in her honour.

Jane ran around 34 miles a day from London back to Cheltenham, with Mark and friends joining her for parts of the route. For the final stretch, her “last leg for Leigh” - Jane was joined by an army of supporters, including friends, family, and fellow 2026 London Marathon runners.

Crossing the hospice finish line surrounded by Sue Ryder staff, volunteers, friends and family, Jane said she felt “elated- and a little bit sad that it’s all over. It’s been many months in the making.”

Mark’s own family experience also inspires their continued support.

“Sue Ryder has been a part of our lives for many years before Leigh died,” he says. “My younger brother passed away from cancer five years ago and was cared for by Sue Ryder Nurses. And my mum died at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice – she wanted to be there and felt lucky and privileged she was able to. The team made a difficult time a lot easier.”

“Cheltenham loves Sue Ryder,” Jane says. “Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is the jewel of the town.”

Together, Jane and Mark have already raised more than £200,000 for Sue Ryder and this year alone they aim to raise another £100,000. Jane also plans to take on the Chicago Marathon and Berlin Marathon in 2026 for Sue Ryder.

Reflecting on the amount she has raised, Jane added: “I started with a target of £20,000, then raised it to £50,000, then £100,000, and now to have reached over £150,000 is mind-blowing.

“I know Leigh would think I was crazy, but she’d also think it was amazing. To have raised so much money in her name - she’d be delighted.”

Daniel Cheesman, Regional Director of Healthcare Operations for Sue Ryder in the Southwest said: “It’s absolutely incredible what Jane has done. Running the London Marathon is already a huge achievement, but to run all the way back to Cheltenham shows incredible determination.

“We are so grateful to her for her support. We can't stop terminal illness, death and grief from happening. But we can stop people facing them alone - and people like Jane are helping us to do just that.”