Carys Gilbert, 31, will take on the 26-mile challenge on Sunday, April 27, in honour of her dad, Neal, who was treated at Queen’s Hospital for a rare blood cancer before he died in March.
Neal, 63, from Hutton in Brentwood, was diagnosed with high-grade B-cell CNS lymphoma in October 2024.
This type of cancer begins in B-cells, which are white blood cells that help the body fight infections.
Due to the severity of his illness, Neal had to be isolated for weeks at a time, with TV on the ward providing him comfort when separated from his family.
Carys, from Billericay, is running to raise funds for the Sky B ward, where Neal was cared for.
She has already raised more than £4,600 for the King George and Queen’s Hospital Charity, and is still taking donations at justgiving.com/page/carys-gilbert-1.
Carys said: “I want to help out where I can and my dad’s care was very good, so I’m raising money to give something back.
“The staff on Sky B were very caring and they brought a lot of comfort to him.
“They helped keep my dad’s spirits up with their positive attitude and always made time to answer our questions.
“TV brought my dad much comfort when he was apart from us and I’m raising money so that other chemotherapy patients who can’t see their families feel a little less alone.”
Neal, a father of two and a grandfather of two, had worked in a bank before becoming a porter at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.
Kyra Swaby, communications and marketing officer for the King George and Queen’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Carys for choosing to support King George & Queen’s Hospitals Charity in memory of her dad.
“Her dedication to fundraising for Sky B Ward, where he was cared for, is truly inspiring.
“Every pound raised will help us continue providing vital support to patients and families going through difficult times.
“We’ll be cheering her on every step of the way.”
