Richard Grieve from Ripon, an army major in the 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and experienced runner, has signed up to the Virgin London Marathon this year to help raise money for Marie Curie.
He will be running in memory of his Grandmother and is hoping to finish the race in under 2 hours, 40 minutes.
Richard said:
Though I’ve completed the London Marathon several times before, this is the first year I have supported a charity. My mother, Celia Grieve, is an avid supporter of Marie Curie and an ardent fundraiser for the Ripon Fundraising Group so was influential in my decision to help raise much needed funds for such a worthy cause.
I’ve been a keen runner since the age of 12, when school cross country races were forced upon us. I then joined the Ripon Runners where I gained invaluable experience from other members of the club and enjoyed regular training sessions. My first taste of a big race came when I completed the Great North Run when I was 17. This achievement really cemented my love of running; a feeling which I still hold today. I’ve already raised over £400 and am hoping more people will pledge their support for Marie Curie through sponsorship.
Richard and his family experienced the amazing support of Marie Curie nurses several years ago, when they cared for his Grandmother, Phyllis Marsh, in Ripon. That prompted his mother to volunteer for the Charity as a way of ‘giving something back’.
Celia Grieve, Secretary and Treasurer of the Ripon Fundraising Group added:
My Mother’s wish was to spend her final weeks at home, surrounded by family. At the time, I was working five days a week and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Marie Curie. The fantastic team of nurses took care of my Mum throughout the night which meant that I could get some much needed rest. Volunteering provides me with the opportunity to say thank you to the Charity and help raise more funds to support the work so that they can continue to support other families in the area.
The Ripon Fundraising Group is looking for more volunteers to enable the Charity to continue raising vital funds to support the service locally. Marie Curie Nurses support terminally ill people and their families providing care and emotional support from 10pm till 7am in the comfort of their own home. Last year in the Harrogate and Ripon area, Marie Curie provided 3226 hours of care. For more information please contact Celia Grieve on 01765 603286 or Liz Tite on 01765 690996.
If you would like to sponsor Richard and donate to Marie Curie you can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/Richard-Grieve1
