A team of seven staff from Chosen Hill School will be lining up at the start of the Cheltenham Half Marathon on Sunday in memory of loved ones, raising funds for the hospice that was there for them, their families and friends.

Helen Kimber, Ian Bird, Mark Aylen, Peter Jeffery, Alison Williams, Emily Hall and Leia Rosenberg will all be pulling on their Team Incredible Sue Ryder running vests to run the 13.1-mile challenge in a couple of days’ time.

Each has a personal reason for running, but together as a team they’ll cover 91 miles across Cheltenham in a bid to raise over £2,000 for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice who helped care for wives, sons, grandparents and friends.

Ian Bird is running in memory of his wife. He said: "I’m running for Sue Ryder because of the fantastic care they gave my late wife Lindsay as she slowly died of a brain tumour and the support they gave me and my children as we went through such a difficult time.

“Every penny raised makes a real difference to patients and families dealing with terminal illness".

Leia Rosenberg is running in memory of her son. She said: “In October 2015 my son, Connor, lost his battle with cancer aged 18. He spent a very short period of time at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and their care of him was amazing.

“In the dark days which followed the support they gave me was nothing short of amazing, and it continues to this day. My son's picnic bench is at the hospice, and it provides a quiet safe space for me and my daughter to go.

“When I'm struggling I can still pop along to the chapel and I’m offered a cup of coffee and comfort. Without the hospice I do not know where I would go. I am running this race, along with many others on the way, to raise money for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice."

Alison is running in memory of her dad. She said: "I am running in memory of my dad as he supported me every step of the way.

“When Dad needed support at the end of his days the Sue Ryder staff supported him and my family every step of the way, so I’m running in support of them all so they can carry on doing what they do."

Helen Kimber, fresh from running the Great North Run earlier this month in support of the hospice, will be tackling her second half marathon in one month to give back for the care given to a friend who lost her husband to cancer.

She said: “I felt helpless but Sue Ryder provided care and supported the family through the darkest days.

“I couldn't do anything to help, but Sue Ryder did. All I could do was run. That’s why I’m taking on the Great North Run and Cheltenham Half Marathon in just one month.”

Emily Hall is running in memory of her grandma. “I want to try and show a tiny fraction of the courage and determination in the run that she showed trying to fight off her stomach cancer,” she said. “Sue Ryder is such an important charity to helping cancer sufferers and their families, and I want to be part of making sure that their work continues."

Mark Aylen will be lacing up his trainers for the help and care given to his grandad, as well as all other people he knows that need the vital support the charity gives.

He said: “I have a blood disorder myself and have to visit a clinic regularly, so I can see for myself how important it is that we raise as much money as we can to support such a wonderful charity."

They will be joined by Peter Jeffery, who is a seasoned Cheltenham Half Marathon runner.

He said: “Although I have run this race a few times in the past, the chance to be part of a team raising money for such an important cause makes it far more important.

“It will make all the training exercises and next day stiff limbs worthwhile, especially when knowing that Sue Ryder is a charity in it for the long run too. Sadly there are few of us that do not know of a relative or friend who has needed that extra support at a most difficult time in our lives.”

The team has been busy training and fundraising, recently holding a bake sale at the school to help them towards their £2,000 fundraising target.

To support the runners, you can donate online at their online giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/CHSHalf4SueRyder

For more information on Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, visit www.sueryder.org/leckhampton

The Cheltenham Half Marathon, which starts and finishes at Cheltenham Racecourse, gets under way at 9am.