PHYLLIS Tuckwell Hospice has wished the best of luck to its fantastic marathon runners taking part in either the Brighton marathon on Sunday or the London marathon on Sunday, April 24 – and to those gluttons for punishment who will be taking on both.

This year, 18 people will be taking part in the Brighton marathon to raise money for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care, which provides supportive and end-of-life care for those living with cancer, or another serious progressive illness, in west Surrey and north-east Hampshire.

Two of these fundraisers will then be pulling on their trainers once again the following weekend, to join another 26 people who are running the London Marathon in aid of Phyllis Tuckwell.

Marathon veterans Dave Coombes and Lisa Hale have both clocked up many miles taking part in fun runs and marathons and this coming fortnight will take Lisa past the hundred mark, with Brighton and London being her 101st and 102nd marathons.

Not all of those supporting Phyllis Tuckwell are experienced runners though, as Frankie Delamain, who will be taking part in the London Marathon with son Hugo, is the first to admit.

“The most running I’ve ever done was for the bus in my heels!” she confessed.

But with her son at her side, and running in memory of her mother, whom Phyllis Tuckwell cared for in her last days, she is determined to raise as much as she can, and has nearly reached the incredible total of £15,000.

“We would like to wish our runners the best of luck this weekend and next,” said Laura Moody, events fundraising manager at Phyllis Tuckwell. “Their dedication and determination are phenomenal and we are very grateful for their support.”

Every day Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice supports more than 250 patients and relatives - in their own homes, at the hospice in Farnham and at the Beacon Centre in Guildford, through medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support.

But as the NHS/Government only covers 20 per cent of its costs, it has to raise over £20,000 a day to be able to offer all its services, free of charge, to patients and families, and therefore relies heavily on the support and generosity of the local community.

To find out more about fundraising for Phyllis Tuckwell, visit pth.org.uk/fundraising or e-mail [email protected].