“Running has helped me come to terms with losing Liz, I will walk it if I have to!”

So says Cathy Hammond as she prepares to run the London Marathon on Sunday for national healthcare charity Sue Ryder.

Cathy, 47, will be running the iconic 26.2-mile race in memory of her friend Liz Finch, who was cared for in her final days at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham before she died in June 2023, aged 46.

Cathy said: “I met Liz about 20 years ago. We have two children of similar ages who went to primary school together, so we just became friends.

“Every week we walked on a Tuesday together – it was our way of releasing any pent-up emotion. She was one of those friends you could offload to and share the good, the bad and the ugly!

“Liz would refer to me and some other friends as her ‘Adventure Buddies’. We used to go on holiday together and made some great memories over the years.

“Obviously, we didn’t know that was all going to be cut short. We didn't get to do all the things we thought we might do, but we did do lots.

“Four days before her birthday on 25th March, Liz messaged before our usual Tuesday walk to say she was feeling a bit poorly so might not be as fast as normal.

“Along with another friend - we were known as the The Three Amigos - we met as usual, and Liz explained what had happened in the last few days.

“We cried and held hands all the way. We never walked again as Liz went into hospital the following Monday and never came home.” 

Cathy continued: “Liz was in the Gloucester Royal for 10 weeks with suspected bile duct cancer. But it was all so rapid and brutal – nothing worked. Liz was strong and fit. She went to the gym and ran the virtual London Marathon in October 2022.

“She never had an opportunity to fight it, it was just relentless.

“This has taken the wind out of my sails because nothing was right, nothing was fair. I just felt blind-sided. She’s left behind two children – Jordan and Katie – and her husband Tim. It’s so unjust.”

Liz was moved to Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in May 2023. Housing the only palliative care inpatient unit in Gloucestershire, the hospice gives expert and compassionate care to people when they need it the most.

Cathy continued: “I’d never been to the hospice before. From the minute I pulled up the driveway, it just felt like the most serene, comforting and homely place.

“It didn't feel like a hospital. Everything Liz could possibly want or need was there to make her as comfortable as possible.

“It just felt like the nicest place to be – you could hear the birds out of the window.

“Liz was at the hospice for nearly six weeks and passed away on 22nd June.”

Knowing that Liz had been a keen runner, Cathy decided to sign up to run the London Marathon in her memory and to help fundraise for the charity that cared for her.

She said: “I ran the Gloucester Marathon in 2017 for my 40th birthday. It was hard. I’m a plodder. I’m not an athlete by any means. It was one to tick off my bucket list.

“This time it feels different. Running has definitely helped me. I’m not there yet, but I’ve come a long way in coming to terms with losing Liz.

“I still have moments of shock, sometimes it takes your breath away. Spending a lot of time on my own at times, it’s been good and helped me clear my head. The fundraising has given me something else to focus on too.”

Cathy organised a series of fundraising events, including a silent disco and coffee morning, and has already smashed her initial fundraising target of £2,500.

She explained: “In an ideal world, I’d like to get it to £4,500.

“When you’ve been to the hospice and understand how important the fundraising is, well, it made me realise that everyone needs to step up and do something for the service to continue.”

On training for the race, Cathy said: “I printed off a plan and followed it as best as I could. I’ve ran two to three times a week with one long run at the weekend and tried to do as much strength and conditioning as I can. It’s hard fitting it all in when you’re working full-time.

“Sometimes it comes off and you have a great run and other days you think, ‘I don’t know what’s happened today’ and draw a line under it and that’s that. It’s been okay.

“I will walk it if I have to and do whatever I have to do!”

When asked how she felt about the race itself, Cathy admitted to feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement.

She added: “I’m fully aware it’s going to be a very emotional run. ‘Team Adventure’ will be there to cheer me on, along with my husband, my children, my sister, my brother-in-law and a group of friends. There should be enough support along the way and obviously Sue Ryder will be there too.

“Having been to Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and watched how things operate there and seen the team, you would want people you love to be able to access that service at the worst time of their life.

“I just wanted to be sure to give something back for all the nice things the hospice did for Liz and her family.”

To donate to Cathy’s fundraising page, visit Cathy hammond is fundraising for Sue Ryder (justgiving.com)