Lucy goes extra mile for marathon fundraiser in memory of her dad
A Northampton runner has so far raised an amazing £1,765 overall for the British Heart Foundation ahead of her first London Marathon this April.
The 24-year-old played host to a charity fundraiser on Wednesday night (March 4) at Bread & Pullet on Wellingborough Road, where 40 diners helped to raised £733 through a raffle and £8 for every meal sold was donated straight to British Heart Foundation.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe cause Lucy is running for holds a special place in her heart after she lost her dad, Tony, to heart failure six years ago.
She said: "I’m not a runner, I never have been but I am supporter of healthy hearts. In 2014, I suddenly lost my dad. He, unfortunately, suffered from heart failure.
"By running the London 2020 Marathon, I want to help spread awareness about the importance of keeping your heart healthy and raise money for the British Heart Foundation
"If me taking on this absurdly silly challenge can help just one family never experience what my dad and my family experienced, then the gruelling 26.2 miles will be completely worth it."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLucy started to follow the Coach to 5k programme after securing her ballot place in October.
"In November, after kitting myself out with all of the running gear I could find in the shop, I headed out for my first run," she added.
"The first run was 60 seconds of running followed by 90 seconds of jogging, for a total of 20 minutes. Now this sounds easy – but for someone who had never ran, I was shocked at how hard it was. But now, I’m ticking off the miles, and every Sunday (also known as ‘long run day’) I try and push myself further than the previous week.
"There’s just under eight weeks until race day, and every day is a challenge, but one I’m starting to love. ‘Runners high’ – the feeling when you come back in after a run, makes the hard slog that day worth it. I’m really seeing the benefits of running, and it’s definitely helping me keep my heart healthier. I see running being a part of my life forever – just maybe not in 26.2 mile bursts."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAside from the charity meal, Lucy has also spent a day fundraising at Tesco in Towcester, has held a bake sale and has been leaflet dropping in Northampton to make sure she can run in memory of her dad.
If you would like to donate to Lucy's fundraising page, click here. You can also follow her Instagram page by searching for @jog.on.lucy
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.