40,000 runners take on the TCS London Marathon each year. The bucket-list moment is an extraordinary 26.2-mile journey through the heart of the capital, past iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.
This year Lizzy Farwell from Exeter will be representing Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) at the globally renowned event, which is far more than a physical challenge, but a personal tribute to her family:
"I am incredibly honoured to be taking part in this year’s London Marathon. My connection to Children’s Hospice South West began long before I could ever imagine running 26.2 miles. From the age of five, I was involved as the very first well sibling of CHSW, witnessing my inspirational parents, Eddie and Jill Farwell, create the children’s hospice movement in the South West. What they built was born from love, courage, and our own family’s experience."
Lizzy’s brother and sister, Katie and Tom, were born with a life-limiting illness, MPS, and as a family they
received support from the only children’s hospice in the UK at the time; Helen House in Oxford.
Lizzy shares that some of her happiest childhood memories were made in a hospice:
“As a family, we knew first-hand how vital a hospice could be, not just as a place of care, but as a place of comfort, togetherness and dignity. Some of my most treasured childhood memories were made in a hospice alongside my older siblings: playing in the garden, dipping into the spa pool, laughing over board games with my parents or simply being together around the dinner table.”
Those times were filled with joy and love, even though they sat
alongside some of the saddest and most difficult moments our family faced. That contrast is something I carry with me, how light and laughter can still exist during the darkest chapters of life.
Lizzy’s parents were inspired to create a children’s hospice in the South West as they knew first-hand how it could positively impact so many families. From this idea, Children’s Hospice South West was born and over time its 3 children’s hospices opened for families in the region to benefit from.
Lizzy says that what her family built together continues to guide her:
“I will always be inspired by what my parents created and be immensely proud of how they used our family’s story to build a place where families across the South West could come together, feel supported, and never feel alone. I saw the extraordinary love and care my brother and sister received from the hospice teams, people who are truly one of a kind.”
Over the years Lizzy has taken on various fundraising activities supporting CHSW, including the charity’s
3-day Incredible Hike on the South West Coast Path but the scale of the London Marathon makes this her biggest challenge yet.
Holding memories of her parents, brother and sister close through every mile of her training, Lizzy’s
motivation has never been stronger:
As I train for this marathon, my family has been with me every step of the way. They may not be beside me in body anymore, but they are absolutely with me in spirit. And although I am the last Farwell standing, I run with them in my heart, hoping, more than anything, that I will do them proud on race day.
Running the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April will not only be a personal achievement for Lizzy taking on her first marathon but also a celebration of the Farwell family’s legacy and the incredible impact they have had on children’s hospice care across the South West.
You can support Lizzy on her Just Giving page.