With the London Marathon about to take place for the first time for two and half years, Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark is joining 100,000 runners and raising funds for two charities which have helped many of his constituents through difficult times: the Hospice in the Weald and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The race takes place around the streets of the capital on Sunday 3rd October. It was last run in April 2019, with subsequent planned events having been postponed because of Covid.
It is Greg’s first marathon – he is more usually seen joining in the 5k Saturday morning Parkrun in Dunorlan Park or running in the lanes around Tunbridge Wells, often with his dog Teddy. This 26.2-mile test of endurance will be a new challenge.
Greg said: “I enjoy running in and around Tunbridge Wells, and when I recently was offered the chance to take part in this year’s London Marathon I grabbed it.
“Over the years, I have known so many friends and constituents who have been given extraordinary care by the Hospice in the Weald at their end of their lives and many who have been looked after by Macmillan nurses during cancer treatment. I would like to express my personal gratitude to both charities by supporting them in this way.
“I’ve never run a marathon before, so it’s a bit daunting but I’m looking forward to the legendary atmosphere carrying me through.”
Greg is Patron of Hospice in the Weald, which is a much-loved Pembury-based charity providing care to patients in our area who have a terminal illness.
He is also running in aid of this year’s overall London Marathon charity which is Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan provides nursing and health care support and information to people with cancer, along with their families and carers. Greg recently opened a new Macmillan Cancer Information Centre in the foyer of Tunbridge Wells Hospital. The charity also provides clinical nurse specialists and support workers for palliative care. Any funds raised will be shared equally between the two charities.
If you would like to sponsor Greg, please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/gregclarkmp – both charities do wonderful work and donations of any size will help them help more people still.
Hospice in the Weald’s Head of Fundraising Louise Wardle said:
“A huge thank you to Greg for taking on the marathon. He has completed our Hospice Run many times and it is wonderful to see him taking on a new running challenge whilst fundraising for the Hospice. We need to raise over £7 million every year to care for local families, so it is support just like this that makes a vital difference. We look forward to cheering you on on the day!”
Sarah Coxhill, Relationship Fundraising Area Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support said:
“We are so incredibly grateful to Greg for signing up to take part in this year’s event. As the official charity partner of this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon, his tremendous efforts to help raise awareness and vital funds helps ensure Macmillan can be there for people living with cancer from the moment they are diagnosed.”
“At a time where Macmillan’s support is needed more than ever before, we are facing a significant drop in our income as a result of the pandemic. We are doing whatever it takes, through our dedicated Macmillan healthcare professionals and specialist cancer services, to support people living with cancer every day. But we can’t do it on our own. We rely almost entirely on public donations to make a difference which is why we are delighted when Parliamentarians like Greg support us at events like the London Marathon and the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.”