When someone special dies, finding a meaningful way to celebrate their life can bring comfort at the most difficult of times. For Matt Mandelbaum and his family, taking part in the London Marathon became a powerful tribute to his mother-in-law, Dr Gillian Smith.

Dr Smith dedicated much of her life to Kingston Hospital. First as a consultant anaesthetist and later as Deputy Medical Director. After bravely undergoing extensive treatment for lung cancer, she passed away at the end of January this year.

Wanting to honour Gill in a positive and lasting way, Matt decided to use his place in this year’s London Marathon to raise funds for Kingston Hospital Charity. With strong family ties to Kingston Hospital, as Matt’s wife, Dr Katie Smith, also began her medical career here, the decision felt deeply personal. “Katie said her mum would have wanted me to raise funds for the Charity,” Matt explains. “So much of her life was dedicated to the hospital. It felt like a lovely way to remember her.”

On marathon day, Matt donned his Kingston Hospital Charity running vest and faced challenging conditions. Rising temperatures during this unusually sunny April day made the second half of the run especially tough. Despite the heat, he showed determination and resilience, completing the race in an impressive 4 hours and 3 minutes. Although this time was a little off his personal best, it was still a personal achievement to run in London!

Matt created a JustGiving page and utilised his contacts to raisealmost £5400 including his workplace matched funding. By taking part, Matt has not only celebrated Gill’s life but also helped support the hospital that meant so much to her. Funds raised through Kingston Hospital Charity enable projects, facilities, and innovations beyond what the NHS can provide, improving the experience of patients and their families.

Matt’s story is a reminder that in-memory fundraising through participation events can transform grief into something truly impactful by honouring loved ones’ lives whilst helping others in their time of need.