A GROUP of runners from Redditch are doing their own ‘London Marathon’ locally to support people living with cancer, including one of their friends who has just been given a terminal diagnosis.
Lizzie Tovey, was diagnosed with an aggressive inflammatory triple negative breast cancer in February 2020.
In April, they discovered the cancer had spread to Lizzie’s spine, sternum and lymphnodes in her throat, under her arms and in her neck and chest.
And even though Lizzie, aged 47, is currently receiving chemotherapy, she is determined to complete the marathon with her friends within a 24 hour period.
Because Lizzie is partially sighted, she will be guided throughout the run. Given how inspiring their team mate is, the group of runners have even decided to incorporate Lizzie’s name into their team name by referring to themselves as the Positivalizzie running group.
They will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Lizzie and her fellow runners will set off from the Mailbox in Birmingham and finish back in Redditch to fulfil l the 26.2 mile course they would have completed had the re-scheduled London Marathon taken place.
“My prognosis is terrible and I am often in a lot of pain. Despite that, I am determined to keep as fit and healthy as I can for as long as I can,” said Lizzie.
Right at the start of my diagnosis, I was paired up with a Macmillan buddy.
My buddy is the amazing Sonia Tudor and we just happen to share a love of running. Normally, we would’ve been able to meet up each week but because of lockdown, we couldn’t do that.
“Instead, we skyped and chatted and it’s been an enormous help to me.”
Lizzie will complete the course with support from fellow runners Ian Widdows, Paula Widdows, Zoe Newman, Mick Clay, Cassie Webb, Linda Beresford, Karen B Lee, Steph Faye Grasby, Mindy Jones, Chelsea Jones, Steve Taggart, Tony Downes, Mellissa Wood, Dean Cockerill and her Sonia.
Lizzie added: “I feel a huge gratitude to my running buddies who have helped me so much, even doing virtual runs via social media when I couldn’t leave the house.”
Sonia said: “I am so proud of Lizzie for taking on this challenge and I am so grateful to all the other runners who will be joining me to cheer her on the whole way.
“We will all be wearing T-shirts with a photo of Lizzie on the back as motivation throughout the journey.”
So far the group has raised more than £2,000 for Macmillan – to boost their total visit http://www.justgiving.com/team/POSATIVALIZZIE
Macmillan is facing an £80 million drop in income due to Covid-19 and is asking people to give what they can.
To find out how you can raise money for the charity, visit http://www.macmillan.org.uk
