Latest news with #GuernseyMarathon
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Widow to run marathon in wedding dress on anniversary
A widow whose husband died of blood cancer will run the London Marathon on her sixth wedding anniversary - and plans to cross the line wearing her wedding marathon will be the last of 13 which Laura Coleman-Day, from Lincolnshire, has run in a year to raise money for a blood cancer research will run with her friend Kate Walford, from Guernsey, who lost one of her best friends to the disease and is also planning to run 12 marathons in a Coleman-Day, from Witham St Hughs, said: "I thought what better way to honour the day and honour him than crossing the line in my wedding dress, so Kate and I are going to stop at mile 23 and put my wedding dress on." "I just can't wait. It's going to be really hard, but also just such a massive achievement."Mrs Coleman-Day's husband, Xander, was an aerospace battle manager for the died last year from post-transplant complications after developing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a rare type of cancer which affects the blood and bone Coleman-Day said she decided to run 12 races in 12 months for blood cancer and stem cell research charity Anthony Nolan."They were doing a lot of research into post-transplant and I didn't want anybody else to go through what me and my son have gone through," she she actually ran a "bonus" 13th marathon earlier this month in Guernsey, where her friend Mrs Walford lives. Mrs Walford will be running the marathon in memory of her friend of 30 years - and son's godfather - Mark, who died in 2018 after getting leukaemia for the second said running had "never been a natural thing" for her, but she'd signed up do 12 races to meet a promise to her friend."I'd always tried running, but hated it and would get to a couple of miles and think 'No, I'm rubbish at this, I'll stop'," she when Mark became ill he started fundraising himself, a legacy Mrs Walford wanted to continue."We did have a final conversation where he said 'You've got to carry on raising money, raising the profile and helping more people' and that's where it started.""He was a very special person, we miss him every day."Mrs Walford met Mrs Coleman-Day through Anthony Nolan in well as being the second race of the 12 Mrs Walford plans to run, Sunday's race will be the pair's second together, after they took part in the Guernsey Marathon at the start of April. "Although we haven't spent a lot of time together in person, I've got a friend for life now," said Mrs on the eve of her 13th marathon in a year how does Mrs Coleman-Day think her friend will get on?"I never thought I'd ever get to this point, I thought I'd have given up", she said."I don't recommend it - Kate's mad!"
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
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Penny Elderfield BBC News, Guernsey Laura Coleman-Day The Guernsey Marathon will be the first time the pair run a race together Two friends who met while fundraising for charity are taking on the challenge of running 12 marathons in 12 months. Taking on the Guernsey Marathon this weekend will be the start of the challenge for Kate Walford, as Laura Coleman-Day nears the end of it. Both are raising for money for Anthony Nolan, a charity each of them has a personal connection with. Between them, the pair have raised more than £12,000 for the charity so far. Laura Coleman-Day Laura Coleman-Day has already run 11 of the 12 marathons, including the Doughnut Dash in Walton-on-Thames Mrs Coleman-Day said the Guernsey Marathon would be her "bonus marathon", as by the end of the challenge she would have actually run 13. She has been raising money for the charity since 2023, after her husband was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a rare type of cancer which affects the blood and bone marrow - the year before. He passed away in 2024 from post-transplant complications. "Once he passed away I decided that I wanted to raise awareness of Anthony Nolan and money for them. "They were doing a lot of research into post-transplant and I didn't want anybody else to go through what me and my son have gone through," she said. 'Really good friends' Mrs Walford started fundraising for the charity in 2019 after she lost a close friend to cancer, initially running the London marathon. She said: "It just went from there. "I have met so many friends through the charity, I have got so many connections through the charity, and obviously I am now really good friends with Laura through the charity." This weekend will be the first time either of them have run the Guernsey Marathon. Mrs Walford lives in Guernsey but said "the hills have put me off". Mrs Coleman-Day, who will travel to the island from Lincolnshire, said she was looking forward to them running together for the first time. They will also take on the London Marathon together in a few weeks time. Related internet links
BBC News
26-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Appeal for Guernsey Marathon volunteer marshals and managers
Organisers of the Guernsey Marathon 2025 have called on volunteers to come forward to help run this year's event. The 26 mile (42km) race has been scheduled for 6 April at South Esplanade. A statement published on the event's homepage says: "It takes hundreds of people to ensure the event runs smoothly, so becoming a Guernsey Marathon volunteer means you play an active role in the overall success of the event."Two roles are available: course marshals and relay station managers. The main responsibility of course marshals is to ensure runners remain safely on the course and stay 70 marshals are required and no experience is needed but they should be over the age of 18. Relay station managers are tasked with managing the marshals on a specific area of the course. The event's website says training will be provided for both roles.
