“I’M doing this for Macmillan, because in your darkest hour, it’s the Macmillan nurse who is the light in your tunnel.”
That’s the inspiration for Redditch’s very own Sonia Tudor, who is once again in training to tackle the London Marathon in a bid to raise £20,000 for the charity she cares passionately about.
“Cancer is a cruel disease, and one in two adults will get it and one in three children, yet a Macmillan nurse will be there for you, and the only way we can make sure of that is to raise the money to pay for them,” said Sonia.
Her own journey to becoming a supporter of the charity began back in 2002 with a misdiagnosis of her mum.
“By the time they found out she had cancer it was too late,” said Sonia, “but we were given a Macmillan nurse, Jenny, and she was incredible.”
Her mum, aged just 50, died eight weeks later and there on Sonia and her dad made a vow to go out and ‘make a difference’.
“We contacted Macmillan and told them we wanted to put a collection tin in every single pub and business in Redditch, and that’s what we did,” she said.
They also made sure the tins were regularly collected and the money sent on to Macmillan.
Eight years later Sonia’s dad was diagnosed with lung cancer.
“We were walking down the corridor at the Alex and my mum’s Macmillan Nurse recognised us and said ‘hello’,” said Sonia.
“Dad was ever so chuffed, and although he had a different Macmillan Nurse but Jenny would still drop in to see him.”
After her dad passed, Sonia found a ‘bucket list’ he’d written, and on it was ‘run the London Marathon’.
“In 2014 I applied but didn’t get a place, but then they brought it forward one week, to April 13, and I was given a place.
“It was the date of my dad’s birthday, and I swear I cried all the way round the 26.2miles.”
More marathons followed, Sonia became Macmillan Champion for Worcestershire.
On her 50th birthday she ran 50 miles round Arrow Valley Lake.
Meanwhile he Redditch branch of the charity she supports has raised more than £1.3million for the cause.
This year’s London Marathon is Sunday, October 2, and Sonia has set her sights on raising £20,000 for Macmillan – and she’s already half way there.
To help her reach then smash that total, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tudor-clay22?
