Huge congratulations to the Kingston Hospital Charity team who took part in this year’s London Landmarks Half Marathon and raised over £16,000.
Thousands of runners take part every year in this popular half marathon which sees the participants race across the capital taking in all the famous London landmarks.
Our sincere thanks go to Serge Lourie, Scott Burnett, Charlotte Jackson, Louise Page, Ryann Clausen, Matt Pritchard, Rebecca Morris, Rupert Williams, Rachel Oakeshott, Katy Markwardt along with Antonis Fysekidis who personally flew into London for the race and went straight home afterward, making headlines back in his European homeland – click here
The ex-leader of Richmond Borough Council and ex-chairman of Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Serge Lourie said:
“As a regular Richmond Park runner who has successfully completed five marathons, I was keen to take on the London Landmarks Half Marathon, after being hit hard with COVID-19 during the first wave back in March 2020. I spent three days in Kingston Hospital’s intensive care, before being moved to Blyth Ward for a further seven days, where the care was amazing despite the hospital being under intense pressure. I’m convinced the staff saved my life and so I was delighted to have the opportunity to show my thanks and appreciation by taking on this half marathon. I am 76 years old and my aim is to run another marathon when I reach 80. This means I will have a run a marathon every decade since my thirties. Assuming I can, I hope to again raise money for Kingston Hospital, which provides such outstanding care for our community.”
Charlotte Jackson, Paediatric Consultant at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and her sister, Louise, had never run further than 5km previously. They both decided that competing in a half marathon would be a great way to celebrate their 40th birthdays.
Charlotte said: “This year’s London Landmarks Half Marathon was scheduled to take place exactly five years after being diagnosed with breast cancer and I will forever be grateful to the amazing staff at Kingston Hospital who cared for me. I am also very lucky to work in the paediatric and neonatal unit with fantastic colleagues who work so hard to provide the best care possible for our local community. This can’t be achieved with NHS funding alone and so I see, first-hand, what a difference this extra support makes.”
We hope to have some places again in next year’s London Landmarks Half Marathon which takes place on Sunday 2 April 2023. It is one of the few half marathons that offers the unique opportunity of running through both the City of London and City of Westminster on closed roads. If you would like to take part and support Kingston Hospital Charity, please call or email Tracey Shaw on 020 8973 5041 or at tracey.shaw17@nhs.net to register your interest.