An inspirational runner who has raised thousands of pounds for Queenscourt Hospice after completing the London Marathon has thanked people for their support.
Tracey Barlow, 51, ran the world famous 26.2-mile race earlier this month in memory of her late husband, Andrew, who tragically died from a brain tumour at the age of just 36.
The determined fundraiser, who works at Queenscourt, has already raised nearly £4,000 for a charity very close to her heart after completing the course in an impressive 4 hours and 37 minutes.
People are able to donate via her Just Giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TraceyJBarlow
Tracey said: “I did it! It didn’t go to completely to plan but it was an experience I will never forget and has raised a massive amount of money for Queenscourt Hospice.
“I would like to thank each and everyone who has donated or who has sponsored me and sent messages of support. You’re all so very kind and generous.
“I have been trying to gain a place in the London Marathon for the past seven or eight years. It has been on my bucket list to do!
“This year I was able to gain a place through Queenscourt Hospice, and I am grateful to have been allowed to run on their behalf.
“I would also like to say a personal thanks to Rob at Runyourpb.com for his help.
“It was an unforgettable experience. The noise from the crowds was huge – there were so many people there! It was quite disorientating. It is a very intense race.
“I ran the Liverpool Marathon 10 years ago, but this was completely different, in every way.
“The sheer volume of runners too was very different – over 40,000 people were taking part – it was a lot to take in!”
There were some interesting sights along the way, from iconic London landmarks to competitors in fancy dress to famous celebrities.
Tracey said: “Someone dressed as a tree ran past me, and someone dressed as a pint of London Pride beer!
“There were a few celebrities there. I saw Mr Motivator at the start of the race, having his photo taken with people. He was doing the warm-up, but I’m not sure if he ran the race.
“When I finished, I was so glad to see so many friendly faces. People had travelled from all over the UK to cheer me on.
“My phone lit up like a Christmas tree afterwards with so many lovely messages from people. It was very heartwarming.
“My time of 4 hours and 37 minutes wasn’t bad, although it wasn’t quite what I wanted.
“But at the end of the day, the time I finished the race isn’t important, it’s all about completing a challenge and raising as much money as possible for Queenscourt Hospice.”
Tracey carried out months of training before the London Marathon, which included taking part in events such as the Lytham Half Marathon. She also held fundraising events and is grateful for all the raffle prizes and other support provided by local companies.
The preparations just before the London Marathon weren’t ideal as a train strike meant that she ended up travelling to London overnight on a bus, but it wasn’t enough to put her off her stride.
Tracey, from Southport, began working at Queenscourt earlier this year and has been keen to raise as much money as she can for the hospice, seeing at first hand every day the amazing work the charity does in the local community.
Completing the London Marathon meant fulfilling a promise she had made to her late husband.
She said: “The last thing I said to Andrew was that I would do something that would make him proud.
“For my 50th birthday, I wanted to do something special but unfortunately, the country was in lockdown. Then I started a new job at Queenscourt Hospice this year.
“A former colleague knew that I ran and said ‘we still have spaces for the London Marathon, if you wanted to apply for a charity place’.
“I knew that this was the challenge I had been looking for.”
Andrew was diagnosed with a brain tumour just 12 months after he married Tracey.
Despite the devastating news, Andrew fought against the condition with everything he had, enabling him to spend precious more years with his wife.
He followed special diets, and over eight years underwent two operations, endless rounds of chemotherapy and two lots of radiotherapy.
He thought he had finally beaten cancer, but within six months of being told he was in remission, the tumour returned with a vengeance.
Andrew spent the last six weeks of his life being cared for at Queenscourt Hospice.
Tracey said: “The care Andrew received, as well as the support provided to our families, was incredible and something we will never forget.”
- To donate to Tracey’s JustGiving page please visit: ttps://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TraceyJBarlow or scan the QR code in this article.
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