St Giles CEO crosses London Marathon finish line, smashing £2,620 fundraising target

The determined hospice leader took on the iconic 26.2-mile challenge, finishing with a time of 5 hours, 1 minute and 2 seconds while comfortably exceeding her original target of £2,620, which represented £100 for each mile of the course.

"I achieved a lifelong dream of running the London Marathon," said Elinor. "It was the fourth hottest on record! I had a great start and loved every step until mile 17 when I felt the wall racing towards me. At mile 19 I really slowed my pace, knowing that the finish line was more important than the finish time. I did it! It was an awesome experience and the crowds were just unbelievable—they really do restore your faith in humanity. Thank you for every single cheer.

"I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you to all who supported me and donated. You were with me every step of the way."

The achievement marks the culmination of months of dedicated training, including a challenging 22.5-mile preparation run just two weeks before the event.

Elinor had previously reflected on her JustGiving page about the true nature of marathon preparation: "Running a marathon is not just about the event itself. It's months of training, dealing with injuries, tears, rain-soaked runs, blisters, and quite frankly, putting other parts of your life on hold to get the miles in - that's the real marathon!"

Her marathon journey included a symbolic 16-mile training run from St Giles Hospice in Whittington to their Sutton Coldfield site on Lindridge Road and back again, connecting the hospice's key locations and highlighting the geographical spread of St Giles' care across the communities it serves.

The challenge held personal significance for Elinor, whose own connection with hospice care began in 1998 when her grandmother received end of life care. This experience, combined with her aunt's later journey, ultimately led her to a career in the hospice sector.

"Every mile I ran and every pound raised helps support local families when they need us most," Elinor said. "Whether it's £32 funding an hour of inpatient care, £66 covering a specialist nurse home visit, or £768 providing 24 hours of end of life care - the outpouring of support has been incredible, and I'm so grateful to everyone who donated."

The fundraising initiative comes at a crucial time for St Giles Hospice, which has served the community for over 40 years. In 2024, the hospice faced significant challenges, including reducing inpatient beds from 23 to 15 due to financial pressures.

To support Elinor's London Marathon achievement, visit: justgiving.com/page/elinor-london-marathon