Meet our runners

Lyndsey, Tavistock: "My family is indebted to Starlight."

Why run the London Marathon for Starlight?

I’m so proud to be running for Starlight because my family is indebted to the charity. Starlight was there for us when my youngest daughter Filly was diagnosed with sepsis, and then cancer. She endured 26 months of chemotherapy, multiple hospital admissions and hundreds of painful procedures. Because of the skill and compassion of the health play professionals throughout her illness, especially during periods of isolation due to profound neutropaenia, Filly came out of her treatment not only in remission, but still smiling.

How are you feeling with only weeks to go?

One of the things that keeps me going is that I'm also running for the thousands of parents who would love to be able to engage in any kind of self-care but cannot, due to needing to be at their child's bedside. I wouldn't have been anywhere else but beside Filly during her cancer. Yet, when she was hospitalised, so was I. 

My own love of running has very much come from a place of healing post-cancer. I never forget the privilege of lacing up my shoes and running out of the door and I'm always thinking of those in isolation cubicles when I'm out on my long run.

What are your tips for achieving your fundraising target?

  1. Chip away at your goal - it's overwhelming sometimes to think of the total amount. Break it down into manageable chunks.
  2. Think about who your connections are. Do you have colleagues, fans, followers, friends, or family? Think about who you know and how you can leverage these contacts because this may influence what events you organise.
  3. Have multiple simultaneous fundraising revenue streams. Relying solely on one event can be risky unless it's a tried and tested event and you know for sure what you will raise.
  4. Consider what moves people... On a whim, I instigated a Christmas lottery and raised £1,000 in four days.